Social Assistance - "Now the Hard Work Begins"

Social Minister Korinna Schumann (SPÖ), Integration Minister Claudia Plakolm (ÖVP), and NEOS parliamentary group leader Yannick Shetty presented the main points of the planned reform. The project remains quite vague, with the focus on nationwide standardization, an integration phase, and a focus on children. The reform is set to come into effect in 2027.

The government's plans for the "New Social Assistance" were already roughly outlined in the government program. The main message of the press conference on Tuesday afternoon at the Federal Chancellery was that negotiations with the states are now starting. "We are here now to say: It's starting," said Minister Schumann when asked what was new compared to the previously reported plans.

Schumann: "A Really Big Reform"

The implementation will certainly take time. The goal is to have the reform come into effect by early 2027, it was said. The social assistance reform is "a really big reform, you don't do it overnight," said Schumann. "Now the hard work begins, to set out together and find a common solution. I am really hopeful that there will be a good common solution." A cabinet presentation is to be decided this week, and next Thursday (September 25) there will be a "kick-off meeting" with representatives of the federal states and social spokespersons.

At this meeting, the legal opinion of the Constitutional Service of the Federal Chancellery will also be presented - on constitutional and competence-related questions in connection with the reform. The report has been available for ten days now, but the content will first be presented to the federal states, "then we will announce the next steps," said Schumann.

A nationwide standardization of the currently different regulations depending on the federal state is planned, as well as the previously announced planned support for employable recipients through the Public Employment Service (AMS). "We need to move away from the patchwork," says Schumann. The social benefits should be "needs-based, integration-promoting, and future-oriented" and serve as a "springboard to self-sufficiency," it was further stated in a government press release. At the same time, the principle of performance justice must be maintained - in relation to income achievable through employment. Schumann emphasized here, however, that special emphasis must be placed on those who, for reasons of age or disability, cannot be available to the labor market.

Language, Work, Values

The introduction of a mandatory integration program "from day 1" is also planned: This should focus on learning German, job placement, and imparting values - as well as sanction options (such as benefit reductions) for non-compliance. During this "integration phase," fewer benefits should be available compared to the full amount - the talk is of an "integration allowance."

Once again, Integration Minister Plakolm clarified that this integration phase will not apply to Austrian citizens. Last week, there were different statements from the Ministry of Social Affairs, suggesting that the phase should apply to everyone, which caused confusion among the coalition partners ÖVP and NEOS.

Shetty: "Starting Signal for a System Change in Social Assistance"

NEOS club chairman Shetty spoke of a "real mammoth project, a huge reform." "This is a starting signal for a system change in social assistance," which should become more uniform nationwide, fairer, and more targeted.

Measures are also planned to combat child poverty and improve "equal opportunities" for all children and young people - a point that the SPÖ has always demanded (keyword "child basic security"). This is now referred to as a "future security for children." Schumann said it is about giving children "opportunities and chances," with transfer payments but at the same time a "strong focus on benefits in kind," such as concerning children's educational institutions, elementary education, afternoon care, holiday care - and a "healthy meal in an educational institution." The children's healthcare is also to be improved according to the government.

Integration Minister Plakolm emphasized at the press conference that social assistance must be "fair and unequivocal." "So far," billions have been spent on social assistance and minimum security - and unfortunately "far too often for people who have not paid a cent into the system, who see social benefits as a convenient substitute for employment," she struck a much sharper tone than Schumann. It must be "unmistakably clear" that social assistance is only available temporarily and as a "last safety net."

People who work and strive to provide for their families themselves should certainly have a good deal more, she also addressed the recurring discussion about very high benefits for families with many children - such as a Syrian family that received 6,000 euros in social assistance and 3,000 euros in family benefits. "Exactly such examples show that the system has completely gotten out of hand."

Therefore, there was also the mandate to examine whether the crediting of family benefits to social assistance is constitutional, according to the constitutional service, this is possible, said Plakolm. "With social assistance, all costs for children should and must be covered, which is why, in my view, it is not necessary to add another 3,000 euros on top." Social benefits are only available (for immigrants, note) after three years and the full amount of integration money only if all conditions are met, she emphasized.

Shetty emphasized that Austria has always been supportive when it came to help. "But there will be no backing for those who deliberately block integration." There will also be a "fast track" towards the labor market for those entitled to asylum. They should be "brought to pay taxes as quickly as possible and not cost taxes," said the NEOS club chairman. At the same time, he emphasized that the family mentioned by Plakolm with 9,000 euros is an "extreme example" - but that's why it's good "that we rely on benefits in kind."

Schumann emphasized that for her, better binding is also important in the question of sanctions, because this also leads to a better form of the possibility of integration into the labor market, which is particularly important to her as Minister of Labor.

Reform of Child Rates as a Goal

A central goal of the federal government is the reform of child rates in social assistance. Currently, different regulations apply depending on the federal state. In the Social Assistance Basic Law (SH-GG) created in 2019, maximum rates for children were originally planned - with a tiered system. While the first child received 25 percent of the compensation allowance, the second child was allocated 15 percent, and the third and each additional child 5 percent. This regulation was overturned by the Constitutional Court in December 2019, as it was deemed a disadvantage for families with multiple children and thus unconstitutional. Therefore, the child rates are currently set by the states themselves, with no federal guidelines.

FPÖ: "Pure Window Dressing"

Criticism came from the FPÖ. Social spokesperson Dagmar Belakowitsch spoke of "pure window dressing and a dangerous sham package." Instead of "finally stopping" immigration into the domestic social system, the plan creates a "new magnet for social tourism." While citizens "groan" under record inflation, the government is crafting a "new integration program for asylum seekers - the focus is not on making access to our social system more difficult, but on integrating into it." In particular, the announcement of "mandatory integration from day 1" is a "pure smokescreen."

The Greens also expressed dissatisfaction, albeit for different reasons: "Once again, little concrete and nothing new - but plenty of well-known elements from the government program," said the Green labor and social spokesperson Markus Koza in a statement. Instead of "constantly getting lost in announcements," the government is "urgently called upon to sit down with social organizations and work out a comprehensive reform that truly deserves the name," he demanded, including minimum instead of maximum rates and an independent child basic security outside of social assistance.

Caritas President Nora Tödtling-Musenbichler welcomed the start of the process but warned against cuts. No one should fall below the subsistence level due to cuts. Instead, there is a need for subsistence-level minimum rates and the joint thinking and implementation of social assistance and child basic security.

(APA/Red)

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