Vienna Public Transport Cancels Free Annual Pass for Blind and Deaf People

The Vienna Social Fund (FSW) has so far subsidized the costs for annual passes of the Vienna public transport for severely visually impaired, blind, or deaf people, but this subsidy will now be discontinued. This affects around 2,700 people who benefited from this reimbursement, as reported by ORF Vienna.

"Special Annual Pass" instead of Free Offer

From November, affected individuals have the option to purchase a "Special Annual Pass" for 300 euros. This pass is available to Viennese with a disability degree of at least 70 percent. "This annual pass will be valid from January 1, 2026, and expands the target group," said the FWS in a statement to "Wien heute".

Criticism from the Association of the Blind

The Association of the Blind, represented by Chairman Kurt Prall, expresses strong dissatisfaction with the discontinuation of the funding. The decision is seen as a significant financial disadvantage for those affected. The organization's assessments highlight concerns about the impact of this measure on the affected individuals.

The Vienna city government, represented by Finance City Councillor Barbara Novak from the SPÖ, explains that the decision is part of the city's savings goals, which amount to a total of 500 million euros. The Vienna Social Fund (FSW) has defended the measure, emphasizing that the discontinuation of this voluntary funding contributes to budget consolidation.

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