Radical restructuring: poverty conference wants to reform minimum income



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The current legal situation exacerbates poverty and degrades those affected to supplicants, says the poverty conference. According to Schenk, the framework law approved by the former government ÖVP / FPÖ, which the Constitutional Court (VfGH) partially repealed in December 2019, “opens up new obstacles and uncertainties that people face in difficult life situations.”

Limiting rental subsidies is particularly problematic for those seeking help. Therefore, a specific requirement is that the actual rent plus energy costs are borne by the minimum security. “The assumption of the costs of rent and equipment are fundamental bases to fight poverty,” emphasizes in this regard.

Also, effective emergency help would be needed, as the wait times in some months to make a decision in an emergency are sometimes unreasonable for people in need. The law must stipulate a decision period of one month, offices must also be required to make a written decision with reasons. And: the applications must be in a simple and multilingual language.

At the same time, the legal anchoring of health insurance must come, as well as a new regulation for maintenance obligations. Because this must often be enforced in court, it is “incompatible with a modern understanding of the welfare state.” In the case of “continuing education”, persons with a maximum of compulsory schooling should be able to receive minimum security after the age of 18.

As a result of the crown crisis, the federal states are assuming an increase in the recipients of minimum income. In some countries, such as Vienna or Styria, there has already been a slight increase in subscribers and demand, as shown by an APA broadcast.

In Vienna, the crown crisis is already reflected in the minimum security figures, according to Peter Hacker (SPÖ), the city’s councilor for social affairs, told APA. In April there was an increase in subscribers of 2.4 percent compared to the same month of 2019. The group of alleged topping has increased above the average, that is, by 11 percent compared to 2019, so the Figures here refer to March as they are for April not yet available.

The significant increase in “top-ups” in March is interpreted in the hacker’s office in such a way that the increase in unemployment is already visible here. In many cases, unemployment benefit is so low that the affected person increases the difference to the subsistence level through minimal security. Therefore, Hacker reaffirmed to the APA that the SPÖ requires an increase in the net rate of replacement of unemployment benefits from 55 to 70 percent to prevent some of the job applicants from having to make additional requests for minimum security.

In Styria, “in the medium term, an increase in minimum income recipients is expected, and this will also be the case with support for housing,” said the office of Social Council member Doris Kampus (SPÖ). An investigation to district authorities and the Graz city hall had already shown increased demand.



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