Stelzer urges Austria to adopt Upper Austria social assistance model

Upper Austria Governor Thomas Stelzer is calling for stricter social assistance rules and wants Austria’s planned reform to follow the model used in the state, ORF reports. He points to falling numbers of recipients and more benefit cuts for people who fail to cooperate.

Upper Austria restructured its social assistance system on February 1, Stelzer said in a statement on Sunday. The aim is to help people return to employment more quickly. An individual action plan is drawn up from the first day and can include steps towards entering the labour market, German courses or other integration measures.

“Social assistance must help people bridge an emergency, but it must not become a permanent condition,” Stelzer said. “Anyone who gets up every day, goes to work and contributes must ultimately have more than someone who lives permanently and exclusively on state benefits.”

According to figures provided by the state, the number of social assistance recipients fell from 7,660 to 7,279 in the comparison period, a decline of about 5 percent. Among people able to work, the number fell from 2,916 to 2,693, or about 7.7 percent.

Benefits were cut in 288 cases because recipients were not sufficiently willing to be placed in work, compared with 263 cases in the previous comparison period.

Under the new payment model, people entering or re-entering the system initially receive only 50 percent of their social assistance. The amount is increased after “credible cooperation”, such as participation in language or integration programmes.

People who do not seek work or attend German courses face further cuts of 30 percent and then 50 percent. In extreme cases, social assistance can be withdrawn completely.

Stelzer also highlighted differences between Austrian states. In Upper Austria, one in every 258 people receives social assistance, compared with one in 45 across Austria and one in 14 in Vienna.

He called on the federal government to implement the planned reform quickly. The key issue, Stelzer said, was a system that combined support with personal responsibility.