Social assistance in danger: Linzin punished by the state for vacation!

Social assistance in danger: Linzin punished by the state for vacation!

A recent incident from Linz rekindled the discussion about social benefits in Austria. A 50-year-old woman who is in the social welfare train is faced with drastic measures because she has published her foreign space on social media. As a result of these public appearances, the magistrate shortened their social assistance by half - a decision that the affected person vehemently contested. She emphasizes that she has received over 34,000 euros in social assistance since 2015 and argues that her trips do not reflect the perception of her financial emergency, as the "Krone" reported.

The regulations regarding social assistance abroad are clearly regulated by the Social Code (§ 24 SGB XII). Since the entry into force in 2005, social assistance is only paid to the needy living in Germany. Germans who have their habitual residence outside the country are fundamentally excluded from the services, unless an extraordinary emergency, which makes a return home impossible. This could be the case, for example, in the care of children or in the event of a serious need for care, as is explained in detail on Deutsche-im-ausland.org.

regulations and exceptions

The provisions also state that a separate application at the responsible social authority in Germany is necessary for applicants living abroad. The associated requirements can be complex, especially if you have to provide the necessary evidence of an exception to the regulations of § 24 SGB XII. In the first application, care must be taken to ensure that the responsible body in Germany is informed accordingly in order to ensure solvency for possible services abroad.

These strict guidelines and the case of the Linzer show how important it is to understand your own social rights and duties, especially if you are abroad. Dealing with social assistance and their perception reflects the challenges that many affected people face when they tried to combine a life abroad with the preservation of social benefits while at the same time to meet the requirements of the authorities.

These developments require a precise understanding of the applicable laws and their application in order to avoid unpleasant surprises.