“We welcome the fact that the reform of social assistance is now on rail-but many questions remain open,” says Caritas President Nora Tödtling-Musenbichler about the cornerstones of the federal government presented today. “At the same time, we see with concern that individual proposals could weaken the existing social network. It must be ensured that nobody slips under the subsistence level.”
With a view to the life realities of the people who rely on social assistance, she appeals to a balanced discussion: “The ‘billions’ in connection with social assistance actually mean 1.1 billion euros-that is only 0.44 percent of the total government spending. No reform of social assistance will be able to renovate the state budget,” says Caritas President Nora Tödtling Musenbichler clear. “Even the image of a massive influx of social assistance does not correspond to reality. The number of social welfare educators has dropped in recent years and has only now increased slightly as a result of current crises – and is still significantly below the level of 2017.”
Plan and implement social welfare and basic childcare together
Caritas positively evaluates that a nationwide uniform regulation is sought: “An end to the current stain carpet is in the interest of people. It is also good that there is a schedule,” said Tödtling-Musenbichler. It remains completely open how the planned changes in social assistance will look in detail and how legal security and livelihood should be guaranteed: “As a result, the result is crucial: the amount of social assistance must remain existential in the future and secure children and adolescents,” appeals Tödtling-Musenbichler.
Therefore, Caritas is particularly important that support for children and adolescents is part of the reform right from the start: “The announced basic child security must be intended and implemented with the social welfare reform. Previous reforms such as the crediting of family allowance must be prevented-because this means nothing other than less support for children and adolescents. Children must be sufficient-regardless of origin or residence status.”
Integration as a duty – offers must follow
Caritas welcomes the announcements towards ‘integration from day 1’ – but sees the planned obligation to integrate to access to social assistance, as long as these integration offers are not in sufficient numbers, needs -based and in all of Austria: “If integration is mandatory, it is also the duty of the state to create enough offers – from language courses to fair opportunities in the labor market. So far, these offers have been missing in many places, ”emphasizes Tödtling-Musenbichler. At the same time, the Caritas President underlines: “58 percent of the social welfare educators are children, people with disabilities and health restrictions or with care obligations. We take the Federal Minister with the word that people who cannot work.
Secure the lowest social network together
Finally, Tödtling-Musenbichler underlines that every reform must not only be socially but also socially viable: “If we begin to cave the foundation of our welfare state and play out the weakest against each other, we risk social cohesion. Austria must not slide into a solidarity crisis. We have to strengthen, do not weaken, do not weaken.”
The Caritas President emphasizes the willingness to cooperate: “We are ready to bring our many years of experience from working with families with poverty, single, job-seeking people and refugees into the reform process. We know the realities of life of those affected up close-this practical knowledge is indispensable so that the reform not only convinces on paper, but also works in everyday life.”