Childcare Policy

The Childcare Benefit can be claimed by anyone with a child who has an annual income below EUR 14,600. This benefit is payable until the child is 30 months old to one parent and then for another six months to the other parent. This Benefit payment is EUR 14.36 a day (approximately USD 410 per month). A supplement of EUR 6.06 per day for lone parents and parents that qualify as ‘low income’ is available. Child Allowances are also available that provide USD 147 per month and increase for multiple children.

While the Childcare Benefit is somewhat designed so that fathers will reduce their working hours, therefore decreasing their income and increasing their involvement in childcare, this has not been the case since the program’s inception in 2002. 

In 1999, the Austrian Parliament passed a Labour Constitution Act in an attempt to create more gender equity in the workforce. This policy was created as an amendment to that original act. Adopted as Article 7(2) of the Austrian Constitution, this policy requires employers to consult with workers councils to discuss reconciling childcare responsibilities with work responsibilities. 

1. Familienlastenausgleichsfonds: This Family Allowances Fund is financed by employers and general contributors. Money is granted to families for child-rearing purposes based on the number of children under twenty-six who are enrolled full-time in education or job training. The amount of money granted to a family by the government increases with the child’s age and the number of children in the family. 
2. Sozialhifle: This component of social security provides monetary assistance to the most needy Austrian families. In addition, programs under the Sozialhifle system provide food, living arrangements, and other alternative means of subsistence.