Lower Austria Facing Stricter Social Assistance Regulations

The Lower Austrian state government decided on stricter rules for social assistance in its meeting on Tuesday. Longer reductions for those unwilling to work and higher penalties for false information are planned. According to Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner (ÖVP), this will "further tighten the strictest social assistance in Austria." The state parliament decision is planned for November 20. The amendment to the Lower Austrian Social Assistance Implementation Act is to come into force in 2026.

The changes are a contribution to fairness towards the working population and are intended to put a stop to social assistance abuse, Mikl-Leitner said according to the state press service. Those who refuse a reasonable job must expect that the benefit will be halved for at least three months in the future. Previously, the duration was four weeks. Each further violation of duty will extend this reduction by four weeks. According to the information, it does not matter whether it is a regular job, a charitable activity, or a German course - even early termination can lead to a reduction. After a cancellation, a waiting period of six months is introduced before entitlement is reinstated.

For people who provide false information or conceal income or assets, fines will be doubled to up to 5,000 euros. If the amount cannot be paid, a substitute prison sentence of up to six weeks is threatened.

"Lower Austrian Social Assistance Must Be the Upper Limit"

"In Lower Austria, we help each other when someone is in need. Social assistance serves this purpose. And only this purpose," emphasized Mikl-Leitner. Because those who work should not be the fools. "We must protect social assistance from lazy fraudsters so that we can continue to help those who really need our help. And we must protect it from immigration into our social system," said the ÖVP state party leader: "Work performance must always be more rewarding than receiving social benefits." ÖVP General Secretary Nico Marchetti added in a statement: "Our social system must not be a self-service store, which is why it must be protected so that support reaches where it is really needed."

VPNÖ state manager Matthias Zauner called for a nationwide harmonization of the regulations. "Lower Austrian social assistance must be the upper limit," he stated in a statement.

"We protect the hard-working population that maintains our system and have no pardon for those who come to our country and deplete the social system," emphasized Deputy Governor FPÖ state party chairman Udo Landbauer. As of today, Tuesday, Lower Austria is digitally connected to the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF) via the integration interface of the Ministry of the Interior. "This allows violations such as course dropouts or unexcused absences to be sanctioned promptly and consistently," explained State Councilor Martin Antauer (FPÖ) in a statement. "Anyone who does not do their integration homework will be unconditionally excluded from social assistance," the Freedom Party member stated.

"There Is No Understanding for Social Fraud"

"There is no understanding for social fraud," also welcomed State Councilor Sven Hergovich, chairman of the SPÖ Lower Austria, the tightening measures. "But that is only one side of the coin. Because harshness without help is heartless," he stated in a statement. Many people are unemployed, even though they would like to work, for example, because illnesses make it difficult to take up work. "Here, more support is urgently needed," demanded the former managing director of the AMS Lower Austria.

(APA/Red)

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