Obstacles in Childcare Allowance Complained
The Chamber of Labour and the Ombudsman criticize hurdles with childcare allowance. It mostly concerns cross-border cases where authorities often hesitate or do not approve the social benefit at all. AK Director Silvia Hruska-Frank and Ombudsman Bernhard Achitz therefore called on Family Minister Claudia Plakolm (ÖVP) to change the legal situation so that it complies with EU law. The ministry justified the procedure by stating that it is important to avoid abuse.
"It is a crazy system"
If a parent works or lives abroad, there are often major problems with family benefits: Families sometimes have to wait months to years before they receive the benefits they are entitled to, reported the Chamber of Labour and the Ombudsman from their practice. "It is a crazy system," said Hruska-Frank. The law is already complicated, and the enforcement is often "harassing." The Chamber of Labour now demands a commitment from Family Minister Plakolm on how family policy is really handled.
Achitz also reported on numerous cases that the Ombudsman is confronted with. However, they can only draw the administration's attention to the grievances. Supporting families in enforcing their claims is not within the Ombudsman's remit, instead, they refer to the Chamber of Labour. Achitz reported cases where domestic authorities instructed families to file an additional application abroad so that the difference could be paid out in Austria. However, this often fails.
"There is a massive need for improvement"
Ines Stilling, Head of Social Affairs at the Chamber of Labour Vienna, also spoke of an "already highly complex legal matter," which makes cross-border cases even more complicated. Notifications from authorities to families are not issued by official notice, but only with an informal letter stating that the requirements are not met. "There is a massive need for improvement here," said Stilling.
"EU law obliges Austria to check whether we are responsible for the payment or whether the other country is responsible," justified the Family Ministry the procedure. Of course, the authorities examine very carefully whether Austrian tax money has to be transferred abroad. "The goal is to avoid abuse. This is about compliance with EU law, not the abuse of EU law."
Specifically, the Chamber of Labour and the Ombudsman are not only demanding more family-friendly authorities and better laws that also comply with EU legal requirements. The two-week deadline for changing the option for childcare allowance must also be extended. This currently applies from the date of application, but it would be better if this deadline only applied from the notification by the ÖGK. The main residence registration as a requirement for entitlement should also be eliminated.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.