In Vienna, fewer people received a minimum income in 2021 than in the previous year. However, the decrease was very small. Over the year, an average of 135,649 people received benefits. That is a small minus of 618. There is a positive trend among families with up to three children and among younger women. The proportion of non-Austrian citizens with a minimum income rose from 55 to 57 percent. In Vienna, a total of 733.6 million euros was spent on minimum income last year.
Overall, 41 percent of the recipients were adults ages 25 and older. 8 percent were young adults and teens, 35 percent of recipients were minors. The rest came from retirees and long-term benefit recipients.
A decrease was recorded for families with up to three children. For couples with one child, it was even 10 percent. However, as the number of children increases, the likelihood of leaving the system decreases: in couples with two children, the drop was only 6 percent. According to the municipality, a positive trend was also observed among people under 25 years of age. This is mainly due to women. However, there is an increase in males in this group.
Percentage of non-Austrian citizens increased to 57%
Single parents and older women were also increasingly dependent on support. The proportion of non-Austrian citizens rose from 55 to 57 percent. This was partly due to the increasing number of people entitled to asylum and subsidiary protection.
All in all, recipients’ incomes have fallen again. In 2021, a person in need – consisting of an average of two people – had a monthly income of 499 euros. That was 13 euros less than last year. Here, for example, benefits were obtained from paid employment, from the labor market service or from pensions.
Guaranteed minimum: 733.6 million in expenses
In Vienna, a total of EUR 733.6 million was spent on minimum benefits last year. Despite the decrease in the number of recipients, this is more than in the previous year. According to the town hall, this is partly due to valorisation and the fact that more and more people are taking out money without health insurance. This must then be insured through the minimum income.
“The wave of inflation is hitting us all, the poorest even harder”
“The minimum income is the heart of social security in our city,” emphasized the Viennese social counselor Peter Hacker (SPÖ). The head of the municipal department 40 (social affairs), Agnes Berlakovich, pointed out that the goal of labor integration cannot be pursued for 64 percent of those affected – because they are children, pensioners or the sick. She warned that more and more people are currently at risk of poverty: “The current wave of inflation affects us all, the poorest even more.”
Hacker called on the federal government to introduce new purchase limits (currently around 977.94 euros for exclusive purchase, note). At the moment you cannot counter this with the minimum security. A payout to people who are above the current limits is not possible – although many who are just above are greatly affected by inflation.
The system, he argued, could take into account, for example, rising energy prices. He proposed to calculate a basket of goods for poorer people and provide the option of adjusting the minimum benefit in the event of a high increase. However, this is currently not legally possible, so you have to work with instruments such as energy support.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
