Too cumbersome

Amnesty report criticizes access to social assistance

The human rights organization Amnesty International has criticized Austria's social welfare system. Access is too restrictive and cumbersome. For example, people with disabilities first have to sue their parents for maintenance before they are entitled to support. 

Former partners also have to file a lawsuit after separation in order to receive social assistance. The authors of the Amnesty International study interviewed experts and social welfare recipients for their report. One key finding: many of those affected are uncomfortable with the fact that they also have to disclose the financial circumstances of relatives if they live in the same household. According to the report, this can lead to dependencies and tensions.

Another difficulty when submitting an application is the language. According to the report, the forms are too extensive and often difficult to understand, even for social workers.

Many do not apply despite being entitled
According to Amnesty International, such hurdles repeatedly lead to people not receiving social assistance even though they are entitled to it. A study from 2020 showed that this affected 30 percent of all eligible households in Vienna. This figure may have increased further. Many recipients reported that there was no suitable advice available.

Amnesty International concludes that the basic social welfare law needs to be revised. As with the minimum income previously, minimum rates should be introduced. "Due to the current inflation, a minimum income that provides a living wage is urgently needed, as are higher unemployment benefits. In order to make it more difficult to intervene in proven measures to combat poverty, basic social rights must be enshrined in the constitution," says Ombudsman Bernhard Achitz in a press release.

In order to make it more difficult to interfere with proven measures to combat poverty, basic social rights must be enshrined in the constitution.

Volksanwalt Bernhard Achitz

Poverty Conference: "Broken bridge"
Martin Schenk from the Poverty Conference speaks of a "broken bridge that is breaking over the raging river". "But now, in the crisis, we need strong social bridges that hold. We need a new minimum income that secures livelihoods, opportunities and participation."