Vienna City Council dismantles social policy: Who is on the streets?

Vienna City Council dismantles social policy: Who is on the streets?

On November 18, 2025, a controversial debate about the city's social policy took place in the Vienna City Council. GR Klemens Resch (FPÖ) criticized the city government's measures, which in his opinion were too focused on the Middle East and Syria. Resch called for a social policy that primarily benefits Austrian citizens and expressed concerns about cuts in benefits for pensioners. He particularly sharply criticized the benefits that asylum seekers receive in Vienna, citing the mobile pass as an example, while other citizens have to pay higher prices. He welcomed the abolition of the minimum income for those entitled to subsidiary protection and spoke out in favor of savings for foreign recipients.

GRin Mag. Stefanie Vasold (SPÖ) replied to Resch that the financial problems and the associated consolidation measures were not caused by the city government. She explained that the old federal government was responsible for the high inflation and had shifted many tasks to the states. Vasold pointed out that there would be reforms in the minimum security system. Those entitled to subsidiary protection would be transferred to federal care, and the crediting of rental assistance towards the minimum income would be adjusted depending on the housing costs. She also emphasized that people with disabilities and those unable to work are exempt from these measures.

Minimum social security systems in context

Minimum security is a central issue in social security. In Germany, for example, financial assistance is provided to secure basic living expenses. These benefits include unemployment benefit II, social benefits and basic security in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity. At the end of 2022, around 7.2 million people in Germany received these transfer benefits, which corresponds to 8.5% of the population, and there was a significant increase, mainly due to the large number of refugees, especially from Ukraine ( bpb.de ).

In Vienna, Vasold also stated that the budget for social services, especially for people with disabilities, would be maintained. Health care will be improved by opening new facilities and creating additional hospital beds.

Reactions and other concerns

GR Georg Prack (GREEN) expressed sharp criticism of the lack of involvement of the opposition in the budget consolidation measures. He reported on cuts in the area of ​​addiction support and called for prioritization in the social sector. This found support in the statement by GRin Mag. Heidemarie sequence (GRÜNE), who denounced the abolition of the reduced single ticket for seniors and the increase in the annual ticket. Sequence emphasized the need for socially fair mobility for everyone and submitted a corresponding motion, which, however, did not find a majority.

Another critical point came from GRin Angela Schütz, MA (FPÖ), who denounced the city government for making savings for the poorest residents, especially in the winter package for the homeless. The debate ended with the majority acknowledging the summary excesses report for the 2025 financial year, while rejecting the opposition's requests, further increasing tensions within the body. The current situation reflects the challenges cities face in social protection, especially in times of economic uncertainty and rising living costs ( ec.europa.eu ).