High demand

More and more Carinthians need housing benefit

Housing is becoming more and more expensive. Since January 1st, the state of Carinthia has been reorganizing housing assistance and operating cost support.

(Bild: Evelyn Hronek)

The state's new housing subsidy has been in force since January 1st. Demand for the assistance is rising sharply. The "Krone" provides an overview of who the new regulation applies to and who can claim it.

With the wave of inflation, not only energy and living costs are skyrocketing, but also rental costs. This is why the state's new housing benefit has been available since January 1st.

And after just a few weeks, it is already clear how many Carinthians are actually dependent on financial support from the state. While there were around 20,000 households with the old housing benefit, there are now 42,000 eligible recipients with the new scheme. 31,000 of these are tenants and 11,000 are homeowners. "To date, there have already been around 5,000 contacts with citizens. That is an extremely high figure," says Gaby Schaunig's office.

Support counts for these groups 
The maximum amount of housing benefit for tenants is 500 euros per month, while the maximum amount of operating cost support for owners is 192.30 euros per month.

Previously, pensioners living in their own home on a small pension only received a heating allowance once a year; under the new regulations, they are entitled to a monthly housing allowance.

Inflation is a major burden for Carinthians. The housing allowance provides relief for single mothers and fathers. The income limit has been raised.

LHStv. Gaby Schaunig, Sozialreferentin

In addition to pensioners, cohabiting couples without children and single parents can also apply for the new housing allowance from the state, which has reserved a total of 50 million euros for this purpose in this year's budget.

"Securing the basic need of housing is the most effective and sustainable way to help. Children raise the income threshold. This will relieve the burden on single mothers or fathers in particular," says Gaby Schaunig.