The human rights organization Amnesty International has criticized the Austrian social security system. Access is too limited and cumbersome. For example, people with disabilities must first sue their parents for alimony before they are entitled to alimony.
Ex-partners also have to file a lawsuit after divorce so that they can receive social assistance benefits. The authors of the Amnesty International study interviewed experts and social assistance recipients for their report. An important finding: many affected people find it annoying that they also have to disclose the financial circumstances of family members if they live in the same household. This could lead to dependencies and tensions, the report said.
Another problem 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 people do not apply even though they have a claim
According to Amnesty International, such obstacles repeatedly lead to people not receiving social assistance, even though they are entitled to it. A 2020 survey found that 30 percent of all eligible households in Vienna were affected. This number may have increased even further. Many recipients indicated that there was no suitable advice.
Amnesty International concludes that the Basic Social Security Act needs to be revised. As with the previous minimum security, minimum fees must be collected. “A minimum income of a living wage is urgently needed due to current inflation, as is a higher unemployment benefit. To make it more difficult to intervene in proven measures to combat poverty, basic social rights must be enshrined in the constitution,” said Ombudsman Bernhard Achitz in a press release.
Poverty Conference: “Broken Bridge”
Martin Schenk of the Poverty Conference speaks of a “broken bridge breaking over the raging river”. “But now that we are in the crisis, we need strong social bridges that can last. We need a new minimum income that secures existence, opportunities and participation.”
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
