Poverty Conference Presents Complete Draft Bill for Sozialhilfe NEU

A central concern is a "wirksame Soforthilfe" as well as shorter decision deadlines. The current duration of three months is "viel zu lang," the Poverty Conference stated in a statement to APA. In addition, authorities should "bei Bekanntwerden einer Notlage von Amts wegen Hilfe leisten." A "Überbrückungshilfe" for persons without other benefits is also envisaged.

Immediate Aid and Shorter Deadlines

Another focus is on housing costs. "Die Wohnkosten sind für Einkommensschwache untragbar, gleichzeitig können die Behörden derzeit die Wohnbeihilfe, die entlasten würde, einkassieren," the Poverty Conference said. The consequence is "Hungern für die Miete." The draft provides for actual housing costs to be covered, adjusted to the average costs per federal state and region.

In substance, the draft formulates a new objective for Sozialhilfe: "Die Bekämpfung und Vermeidung von Armut durch die Absicherung von grundlegenden Lebensbedürfnissen und Teilhabe, das Verhindern von sozialer Ausgrenzung sowie die Eingliederung oder Wiedereingliederung jener Personen ins Erwerbsleben, die der Arbeitsvermittlung zu Verfügung stehen." This is intended to enable Sozialhilfe recipients to "das Führen eines menschenwürdigen Lebens" and to "das Existenzminimum sicherstellen."

Housing Costs and New Legal Objective

While the current version of the Sozialhilfe-Grundsatzgesetz provides that benefits "zur Unterstützung des allgemeinen Lebensunterhalts und zur Befriedigung des Wohnbedarfs der Bezugsberechtigten beitragen," the draft reverses the logic: instead of nationwide maximum rates, minimum rates are to be defined, which the federal states may not fall below but may exceed. In addition, the draft contains a nationwide "Deckelung" of Sozialhilfe rates for children above a certain number of children.

For people with disabilities, the draft provides for a limitation of the "Unterhaltsverfolgungspflicht" vis-à-vis parents up to the age of 25, since the obligation to pay maintenance under the civil code does not automatically expire at age 18. When providing benefits, it must also be ensured that "die jeweils erforderliche Beratung und Betreuung zur Vermeidung und Überwindung von sozialen Notlagen sowie zur nachhaltigen sozialen Stabilisierung" is guaranteed.

People with Disabilities and Women

The Poverty Conference emphasized that immediate aid was particularly important for women affected by violence as well as for the prevention of evictions and debt. People with disabilities are currently denied a self-determined life, and women affected by violence are left alone, the organization criticized in its statement.

Among other things, a nationwide standardization is planned with an "Integrationsphase" for immigrants, which is desired above all by the ÖVP and is to bring a temporarily reduced receipt of Sozialhilfe ("Wartefrist"). Schenk described the draft as a "Hilfestellung für die Regierung im Verhandlungsprozess" with "Anregungen aus der Praxis und der sozialen Realität von Menschen, die in der Politik gerne verdrängt werden."

Integration Phase and Government Negotiations

Parallel to the Poverty Conference's proposals, government negotiations on the concrete design of Sozialhilfe NEU are underway. Social Minister Schumann stated on Sunday on the ORF's "Pressestunde" that they were "sehr intensiv in Verhandlungen" and still had much to catch up on. However, she "wirklich davon aus, dass wir mit 1. 1. 2027 das Gesamtpaket der Sozialhilfe NEU mit ihren einzelnen Teilen auf den Weg bringen werden."

The final form of the reform has therefore still not been decided. The Poverty Conference expressly does not see its draft as competing with the government, but rather as practice-oriented input into the ongoing negotiation process.

The draft is intended to be a "Hilfestellung für die Regierung im Verhandlungsprozess," social expert Martin Schenk told APA – "mit Anregungen aus der Praxis und der sozialen Realität von Menschen, die in der Politik gerne verdrängt werden."