Vienna in focus: scandalous 9,000 euros social assistance for large Syrian family!

Vienna in focus: scandalous 9,000 euros social assistance for large Syrian family!

Wien, Österreich - in Vienna has gained the discussion about government benefits to a large Syrian family of intensity. This family, who has lived in Austria since 2012, receives around 9,000 euros per month in support. This sum not only triggers public debates, but also raises questions about the fairness of the social system. Like the Kosmo reported in Vienna, a total of four families with eleven children from social welfare, while 234 families have more than seven children. It is striking that 57 % of the over 20,000 social welfare households in Vienna raise only one or two children.

The monthly support of the Syrian family is composed according to Exxpress from various components: 1,700 euros social assistance, 3,600 euros for the eleven children, 3,000 euros family allowance and 1,600 euros Rent grant. The family's apartment is considered overcrowded because it lives on less than 100 square meters, which corresponds to about 7 m² per family member.

reactions to social assistance

The payments have led to sharp criticism. The FPÖ club chairman Dominik Nepp described the situation as "scandal" and accused the mayor Michael Ludwig to make "Vienna a social paradise". Politicians from ÖVP and FPÖ have been calling for a minimum security upper limit since April 2025. Vienna FPÖ City Councilor Maximilian Krauss spoke of a "social policy madness" that illustrates the need for reforms in the social system.

The City of Vienna, on the other hand, defends payments, emphasizes that they take special life situations into account and indicate the applicable legal situation. These regulations allow social assistance to large families to increase up to 30 % at high rental costs, while most other federal states have similar scope.

social welfare regulations and reform needs

The claim requirements for social assistance in Austria are clearly regulated. Asylum persons receive asylum seekers from the award of the protection status of social assistance. As from the information of the Social Ministry , existing income must be used in principle, however, certain services such as family subsidies are not taken into account.

There are increasingly concerns about the financial burden for Austria and the possible overwhelming of the education system. New asylum statistics are strengthening the discussion about social security and calling for a reassessment of financial policy. The population grows the discomfort about the high social payments, especially with regard to the existing financial challenges in the country.