Debate by minimum security: Vienna before financial bottlenecks!

Debate by minimum security: Vienna before financial bottlenecks!

Wien, Österreich - The debate about Vienna's minimum security is picking up speed again. Officers and political opposition try to manage the financial challenges associated with this social support. The increasing costs in particular ensure tensions within the city administration and the political parties.

The city of Vienna is faced with a tense budget in 2026. Financial director Maschek emphasizes that the available budget must be sufficient to cover the necessary expenses. Social City Councilor Peter Hacker (SPÖ) admits that savings are inevitable. In the Vienna City Administration it becomes clear that the increasing costs of the minimum security can no longer be ignored. The magistrate department 5 (finance) explains that the additional costs must be covered by reductions in other areas or by changes in legal framework conditions. Vienna.at reports that the costs of the minimum security for 2026 have not yet been determined.

criticism of the opposition

The opposition, especially the Vienna People's Party (ÖVP), expresses sharp criticism of the current handling of the minimum security. ÖVP boss Markus Figl describes the system as unfair and not affordable and calls for an immediate change of course. In the public discussion, the payment of the full minimum security to subsidiary protection is criticized as incompatible with federal law requirements. In addition, FPÖ chairman Dominik Nepg advocates the coupling of the minimum security to Austrian citizenship and calls for the resignation of Hacker.

Karl Mahrer, the state party chairman of the ÖVP, warns of the continuously rising costs, which could increase by 214.6 million euros in 2024. His party colleague Ingrid Korosec describes the minimum security as a "permanent hammock" and calls for reforms in the social welfare system. This includes the complete implementation of the Basic Social Welfare Act in Vienna as well as a capping of social benefits for subsidiary protectionists and a staggering of the minimum security rates for children in multi-child families, similar to the regulation in Upper and Lower Austria. [OTS] (https://www.ots.at/presseaus-sung/ots_20241004_ots0135/mahrorosec-kosten-der-Mindestscherkt- Begen-Begen-Stadtrat-Hacker-Beget-Realiters refusal) emphasizes that the Vienna People's Party is to be rejected.

Current framework conditions of minimum security

The legal basis for minimum security is regulated by the Basic Social Welfare Act. This provides for social assistance instead of minimum standards. The maximum amount in 2025 is around 1,209 euros for lives alone, while couples receive around 1,693 euros. A covering determination ensures that the sum of cash benefits in a household community must not exceed 175% of the net compensation for letters to live alone, which corresponds to around 2,116 euros in 2025. Additional benefits to cover housing costs can be used in certain federal states, including Vienna, which increases the basic performance for lives to up to 1,572 euros. [Ministry of Social Affairs] (https://www.

The discussion about the Viennese minimum security illustrates the financial and political challenges that both the city administration and the political parties have to cope with. The different approaches to reform the system will remain controversial, whereby the question remains how these savings can be implemented socially compatible.