Twelve-Child Family in Vienna Sparks New Social Welfare Debate

The discussion about the reform of social assistance gained new momentum on Monday after a "Krone" report about another individual case of a large family. Integration Minister Claudia Plakolm (ÖVP) told the APA that such examples show "that the system has completely gone off the rails." Social Minister Korinna Schumann (SPÖ) expressed "understanding" for discontent due to high payout amounts, while emphasizing that a "good path" must be found.

Case of a Large Family in Vienna Brings Reform Pressure Back

In May, the debate was triggered by a report in the "Kronen Zeitung" about a Syrian large family with eleven children, which received a total of around 9,000 euros in social benefits. A new report by the paper on Monday about a "first family" with twelve children in social assistance, which is still called minimum security in Vienna, prompted politicians to once again point out the pressure for reform. According to the report, the number of families receiving minimum security with five or more children is said to have increased, as stated with reference to (not yet officially published) data from the city of Vienna. The numbers are, of course, manageable: Specifically, it is an increase of 18 such families "within a few months," while the total number of minimum security recipients in Vienna is more than 135,000 according to "Krone."

ÖVP Sees System "Completely Off the Rails"

The ÖVP viewed this critically: "Exactly such examples show that the system has completely gone off the rails. In the government program, we therefore noted the point that the constitutionally compliant crediting of family benefits to social assistance should be examined," explained ÖVP Minister Plakolm in a statement to the APA - and this has been done: "According to the constitutional service, a constitutionally compliant crediting of family benefits is possible. How exactly, the upcoming negotiations will show." Social benefits should already cover all costs for children, according to Plakolm's stance. "Therefore, from our point of view, it is not necessary to add more than 3,000 euros on top."

ÖVP General Secretary Nico Marchetti stated in a release that social assistance must "create incentives for work" and should not "be a permanent income." In the course of the planned reform of social assistance, its amount must be standardized throughout Austria and limited to a reasonable level. The Vienna ÖVP took the report as an opportunity to criticize the Vienna city coalition between SPÖ and NEOS, which "has not acted." Above all, adjustments are needed in the payouts to those with subsidiary protection status and the scaling of child rates.

Social Minister Can Understand Discontent

Social Minister Korinna Schumann (SPÖ) expressed understanding in a statement but warned against exaggerated reactions: "With this sum, I understand everyone for whom this causes incomprehension and discontent. We must now find a good way so that these sums are not paid out in the future, but at the same time, people do not fall into the abyss."

According to Schumann, two working groups have been established to implement the planned reform: one group for the Public Employment Service (AMS) (which, according to the plans, is to support employable social assistance recipients) and "interfaces" in the federal states; another working group for legislation, the minister told the newspaper "heute".

Integration Courses Not for Austrians

Regarding the question of the planned "integration phase" or "waiting period", which targets immigrants and during which the full amount of social assistance is not to be granted, the Ministry of Social Affairs once again emphasized the need for a constitutionally compliant solution. However, the planned integration courses are not intended for Austrians: "No, of course that will not be the case," said Schumann. In September, there was some confusion on this issue within the ÖVP-SPÖ-NEOS coalition: At one point, the Ministry of Social Affairs stated that this "integration phase" should apply to all applicants (including Austrians) for reasons of equal treatment, but this statement was later retracted.

Schumann reiterated on Monday that the "integration phase" must be constitutionally compliant: Regarding possible constitutional issues and whether the planned integration phase for immigrants will hold legally - or whether a "waiting period" with reduced benefits for everyone might have to be introduced, Schumann stated: "We are dealing with an extremely complex matter. If I publicly commit now to how the individual parts should look, we will never achieve a reform. It is important that the reform holds up constitutionally and under EU law."

She also pointed out that in 2019, the social assistance reform under the turquoise-blue coalition was "thrown back" by the Constitutional Court. In 2019, the Constitutional Court viewed the "graduation" of social assistance amounts for children as a disadvantage for families with multiple children and thus unconstitutional.

Plakolm Again Refers to the EU Status Regulation

Plakolm, as before, referred to the EU status regulation that will apply from mid-2026. According to this, it is indeed legally possible to link social benefits to integration measures, she explained back in September. "Anyone who wants to live with us must learn German, strive for a job, and adhere to our values and laws," she emphasized again on Monday. "Those who do not will be sanctioned." With the mandatory integration program, "integration will become an obligation rather than an offer," social benefits will only be available after three years - "and the full amount of integration money will only be available if all requirements are conscientiously met."

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.