Austria's Welfare System: Supporting Refugees' Wellbeing

Refugees in Austria are entitled to Basic Care for the first four months after their status is recognised. This includes organised accommodation, a rent subsidy, health insurance, food, pocket money, and money for clothing. After this period, refugees can access the general welfare system and obtain basic care and social assistance similarly to Austrian citizens. However, the amount of social welfare received depends on the province, and not all provinces grant social welfare to beneficiaries of subsidiary protection. In 2019, Austria passed a welfare reform that reduced benefits for foreigners who could not prove intermediate German or advanced English skills. This reform was criticised by the UNHCR and opposition parties as a violation of the Geneva Refugee Convention and the EU Qualification Directive, which mandate equal treatment of refugees and citizens regarding social welfare.

Refugees are entitled to Basic Care for the first four months after their status is recognised

In Austria, refugees are entitled to Basic Care for the first four months after their status is recognised. Basic Care consists of organised accommodation in inns, boarding houses, reception centres of NGOs or of the respective federal province, or a rent subsidy when an asylum seeker rents a flat themselves. The prevailing form of Basic Care is organised accommodation, except for Vienna, where private accommodation is more common. Basic Care includes health insurance, food, pocket money, money for clothing, and accommodation in suitable facilities.

After the initial four-month period, refugees have access to the general welfare system and can obtain basic care and social assistance similar to any other Austrian citizen. However, the amount of social welfare received depends on the province in which they live, and not all provinces grant social welfare to beneficiaries of subsidiary protection.

In terms of financial support, refugees in Austria have experienced cuts in recent years. In 2019, a welfare reform was passed by the ruling right-wing parties, reducing the standard minimum welfare payment for foreigners by €300 unless they could demonstrate intermediate German or advanced English skills. Additionally, there have been instances of provinces reducing benefits for new arrivals, including refugees who have obtained asylum. These cuts have been criticised by the UNHCR and opposition parties as a breach of international and European law, as well as contributing to social divisions and poverty.

While refugees in Austria do have access to Basic Care and social welfare, the specific benefits and support provided can vary depending on their status, the province they live in, and the changing political landscape.

After the initial four-month period, refugees can access the general welfare system

In Austria, refugees are entitled to Basic Care during the first four months after their status is recognised. This includes organised accommodation in inns, boarding houses, reception centres of NGOs or of the respective federal province, or a rent subsidy if they rent a flat themselves. Basic Care also comprises health insurance, food, pocket money, money for clothing, and accommodation in suitable facilities.

In addition to accessing the general welfare system, refugees can also apply for social housing if they are at risk of becoming homeless. However, the waiting lists for social housing are often long, and emergency flats are rarely available. Refugees may also face challenges in finding accommodation due to requirements such as proof of residence for a certain period, as well as discrimination from landlords who do not want to rent to refugees.

It is important to note that beneficiaries of subsidiary protection, who represent the largest group of Basic Care beneficiaries, are excluded from the general welfare system. They do not have a temporal limit on receiving Basic Care, but they are not entitled to the same social welfare benefits as recognised refugees.

The amount of social welfare refugees receive depends on the province they live in

Refugees in Austria are entitled to Basic Care during the first four months after their status is recognised. After this period, they can access the general welfare system and obtain basic care and social assistance in the same way as Austrian citizens. However, the amount of social welfare refugees receive depends on the province in which they live.

In some provinces, such as Burgenland, Lower Austria, Salzburg, and Styria, beneficiaries of subsidiary protection do not have access to needs-based minimum benefits. Instead, they are only provided with "core benefits" under their Basic Care legislation. In these provinces, refugees may receive lower amounts of needs-based benefits than Austrian nationals. For example, in Lower Austria, nationals receive €889.84 per month, while refugees receive €522.50, including a bonus for participating in integration measures such as language courses.

Other provinces, such as Upper Austria, have introduced restrictions and lower benefit amounts for refugees with temporary residence permits or subsidiary protection. In Vorarlberg, refugees who receive a minimum income do not receive housing compensation, and single refugees only receive the minimum income if they live in shared flats.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled against curbs on refugee rights, stating that Austria's 2015 regulation of providing minimal social assistance to refugees was not compatible with EU directives. The ECJ affirmed that persons granted refugee status must be granted the same level of social assistance as nationals of the host country, regardless of their residence status.

Refugees are entitled to less in social benefits than Austrian citizens

Refugees in Austria are entitled to less in social benefits than Austrian citizens. While refugees do have access to work, education, social welfare and medical care, the amount of social welfare they receive depends on the province in which they live. In some cases, refugees are not entitled to the same level of social benefits as Austrian citizens.

In Austria, asylum seekers have the right to "basic care", which includes health insurance, food, pocket money, money for clothing, and accommodation in suitable facilities. This basic care is significantly lower than the needs-based minimum benefit that recognised refugees are entitled to. Asylum seekers can receive basic care immediately after lodging their asylum application until a final decision is made on their application. The monthly amount they receive depends on the type of accommodation. For example, in reception centres where catering is provided, asylum seekers receive €40 pocket money per month, while in reception centres where they cook their own meals, they receive between €150 and €200 per month.

After being recognised as refugees, they have access to the general welfare system and can obtain basic care and social assistance similar to Austrian citizens. However, in some provinces, refugees receive lower amounts of needs-based benefits than nationals. For example, in Lower Austria, nationals receive €889.84, while refugees receive €522.50, including a bonus of €155 if they participate in integration measures such as language courses.

In addition, refugees may face challenges in finding adequate housing due to limited financial resources and long waiting lists for social housing. They are also often excluded from cooperative flats, a cheaper accommodation option, as they lack the necessary resources to contribute to construction costs.

Furthermore, Austria's far-right government has implemented welfare reforms that disproportionately affect foreigners and large families. Under these reforms, foreigners receive €300 less in welfare benefits unless they can demonstrate intermediate German or advanced English skills. This has been criticised by the UNHCR and opposition parties as a form of "unjustified discrimination" that violates international and European law.

Asylum seekers are entitled to basic care and have access to health insurance, food, pocket money, money for clothing and accommodation

Asylum seekers in Austria are entitled to basic care, which includes access to health insurance, food, pocket money, money for clothing, and accommodation.

Health Insurance

Asylum seekers and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection in Vienna are automatically insured with the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) if free co-insurance with relatives is not possible. Beneficiaries of subsidiary protection have no maximum time limit on basic care and thus always enjoy health insurance similar to asylum seekers. Refugees enjoy basic care for four months after their status is recognised. When participating in job centre courses, they are also covered by health insurance. Once they start working for more than a few hours, mandatory health insurance takes effect. Refugees who are considered to be without resources and receive needs-oriented minimum basic benefits are also insured.

Food

Asylum seekers can be accommodated in reception centres where catering is provided. In these centres, they receive €40 in pocket money per month, while the care provider (NGOs or private companies contracted by the government) receives a maximum compensation of €25 per day, depending on the standards of the facility. Basic care can also be provided in centres where asylum seekers cook for themselves. In that case, they receive between €165 and €186 per month, mainly in cash.

Pocket Money

Asylum seekers in reception centres with catering provided receive €40 in pocket money per month. In centres where they cook for themselves, they receive between €165 and €186 per month, mainly in cash.

Money for Clothing

Asylum seekers living in private rented flats receive 36.5% of the needs-based minimum allowance for citizens in need of social welfare support, which is about €1,155.84 for subsistence per month.

Accommodation

Asylum seekers can be accommodated in reception centres where catering is provided, or in centres where they cook for themselves. Basic care can also be provided for asylum seekers in private accommodation. In 2022, the monthly allowance for food was increased from €215 to €260, and for rent from €150 to €165 for a single person. Asylum seekers in Vienna can receive €425 in cash for food and rent. The payments for rent allowance differ across federal states.

Frequently asked questions