Vienna in the social welfare break: basic childcare comes!

Vienna in the social welfare break: basic childcare comes!

Wien, Österreich - The Vienna city government under the leadership of Mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) and Vice Mayor Bettina Emmerling (NEOS) presented a comprehensive reform package for minimum security on June 5, 2025. The aim of this reform is to adapt social support in Vienna to the current conditions and to improve the integration of disadvantaged groups into the labor market. This was announced in the new government program with the Slogan "This leads to progress", which comprises 191 pages and outlined the vision of an "affordable, livable and climate -wide Vienna" .

A central concern is the reform of the minimum security, which in Vienna benefits around 140,000 people, including many children, . These reformed regulations could particularly affect families and long -term unemployed. The reform stipulates that social services are evaluated in order to achieve greater accuracy. In addition, a basic child protection is to be introduced, which is increasingly relating to benefits in kind instead of direct money payments .

plans for uniform regulations

The Vienna city government also urges a nationwide uniform regulation of minimum security. If there is no agreement on a nationwide level, own steps to reform in Vienna could be taken . It is important to evaluate the existing social achievements in order to accelerate the integration of the recipients into the labor market. So far, the exact design of the new support remains unclear, in particular with regard to the possible staggering of the services for large families .

Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker has also spoken out for a uniform solution for all of Austria, whereby the Social Ministry emphasizes the role of the federal states in this reform process . The planned standardization also stipulates that service recipients in different federal states should receive a uniform amount in order to eliminate the current inequalities .

effects on children and families

A point of criticism of the planned reforms is that children may be given less support. The introduction of basic child protection could lead to a financial disadvantage for some families . The discussion about how this basic security should be designed in concrete terms, by switching to benefits in kind. There is agreement that the integration of children from social assistance should be further promoted in order to improve their long -term perspectives .

The reform plans are part of a long -discussed and controversial topic in Austria, which could also bring legal challenges. Experts warn of possible conflicts with Austrian constitutional law and Union law, especially if these reforms would lead to financial disadvantage .

Overall, it remains to be seen how the coalition will implement the promises and what specific effects the reform on minimum security in Vienna and beyond. The next few months are likely to be decisive for the design of these social measures.