Styria raises income cap for commuter grant

More people in Styria will be eligible for the commuter grant after the provincial government raised its annual income limit by 20 percent, ORF reported.

The cap has increased from 35,000 euros to 42,000 euros in gross annual pay. Based on 14 monthly payments, that is a rise from 2,500 euros to 3,000 euros a month. The grant amount itself remains unchanged.

The government approved the increase on Thursday following a proposal by Social Affairs Councillor Hannes Amesbauer of the Freedom Party. It said the higher limit responds to rising costs since the last adjustment in 2021.

Of the applications for 2024, 527 were rejected, including 450 because applicants exceeded the income limit. Of those 450, 277 would fall below the new cap, Councillor Karlheinz Kornhäusl of the People’s Party said.

The grant is funded two-thirds by the province and one-third by the Styria Chamber of Labour, which administers applications. Chamber president Josef Pesserl said higher fuel prices and other rising living costs were adding to the burden on workers who rely on private cars to commute.

Employees whose main home is in Styria can apply if they travel at least 25 kilometres to work. People in retraining and apprentices staying at vocational school boarding facilities are also eligible. The grant can be up to 389 euros a year, depending on income, distance and the number of months spent commuting. Applications are made retrospectively for the previous calendar year.

The Communist Party of Austria welcomed the change. State parliament member Alexander Melinz said it fulfilled a long-standing demand by his party.