Austria

Social Welfare Benefits for Austrian Jewish Survivors

The Claims Conference has urged every Austrian government since the 1950s to increase its social welfare benefits for elderly Austrians who were expelled from the country or fled following the Anschluss.

Austrian Pensions

Improvements negotiated in social insurance legislation include the right to buy back work months at a very low premium and receive an Austrian pension. Widows or widowers of former Austrian citizens are eligible to receive 60 percent of their late spouses’ pensions. The minimum pension averages approximately €365 per month, but may be higher if the person worked abroad and there is a bilateral agreement between the country of the person’s residence and Austria (such as in the U.S., Israel, Australia, Chile, and the UK).All Holocaust survivors born before or on Dec. 31, 1932 are entitled to a minimum Austrian pension if they repurchase "work-months." The same rights under the existing law should apply: repurchase of 180 months (15 years) at a special rate of about €24 per month.

Negotiations between the Claims Conference and Austria in 2002 and 2009 have led to the following improvements in eligibility requirements:

All Holocaust survivors born between Jan. 1, 1933 and May 9, 1945 have the right to a minimum Austrian pension, if they repurchase "work-months." The same rights under the existing law will apply: repurchase of 180 months (15 years) at a special rate of about €24 per month. One exception: those male Holocaust survivors born after January 1936 will only be eligible upon reaching age 65.

Individuals, who had not contributed to the Austrian social security system at the time of their emigration from Austria must both have been born between March 12, 1938 and May 8, 1945 and at least mother or father must have lived (in permanent residence) in Austria on March 12, 1938 to be eligible for the retroactive purchase of pension credits.”- http://www.bmeia.gv.at/en/embassy/los-angeles/practical-advice/consular-information/pension-and-social-security.html.

Nursing Care/Pflegegeld

In the 1990s a special measure was negotiated with the Austrian government to pay nursing care (Pflegegeld) to needy Austrians living abroad. Improvements to this benefit were negotiated in 2001, giving Austrian victims of Nazism living abroad the same payments as those living in Austria. Payments totaling $1 million per month are being made to 1,300 Austrian Jewish victims of Nazism.

If you receive an Austrian pension, you may be eligible for nursing care payments/ Pflegegeld. Concentration camp survivors are eligible for additional nursing care payments under the Victim Relief Law, if they can prove that their disability is due to concentration camp suffering. Widows or widowers of Austrian victims are not eligible. The amount of payments depends on the category of care, with "7" being the highest need.

Nursing Care Category	Monthly payment	Average monthly need over
1	€145	50 hours
2	€268	75 hours
3	€414	120 hours
4	€620	160 hours
5	€842	180 hours - possible constant need
6	€1,149.70	180 hours - day and night assistance
7	€1,532	180 hours - extremely limited movement

As a result of the 2002 negotiations between the Claims Conference and Austria, eligibility is now determined by need, not country of current residence.

Those currently receiving payments for one category may apply for increased assistance. Forms are available at www.sozvers.at/pvang

Victim Relief (Opferfürsorge

Payments are given to Austrian or former Austrian citizens who between March 6, 1933 and May 9, 1945 suffered physical injuries as a result of their active resistance to the Nazi regime or as a result of political beliefs, religion, nationality, or physical disabilities. One-time compensation payments are available to those who:

Were interned for at least three months: €63 for every month of internment
Suffered loss of or detriment to income for at least three and a half years during this time: €727
Suffered loss of or interruption to education for at least three and a half years during this time: €436
Lived in hiding for at least six months: €25 for every month in hiding
Had to wear the Star of David for at least six months: €436
Suffered loss of free movement for at least six months in Nazi Germany or in a land occupied by Nazi Germany: €25 for every month lost freedom of movement

The negotiations between the Claims Conference and Austria that took effect on March 1, 2002 led to the following improvements in eligibility requirements:

The definition of "imprisonment" has been broadened to include all confinement in "concentration-like" facilities.
Austrian victims born between Jan. 1, 1933 and March 13, 1938 are now also eligible for victim relief benefits.
Austrian citizens as of March 13, 1938 (or residents of Austria as of at least March 13, 1928) will be entitled to pension subsidies (Opferrente) - based on "hardship" cases (monthly income under €850 or, for a couple, €1,102, where 30 percent of the spouse’s income is included in the total). Current Austrian citizenship is no longer a requirement

How to Apply

Pensions and Pflegegeld/Nursing Care

Contact the Austrian Embassy nearest you or the authority below:

Pensionsversicherungsanstalt der Angestellten:
Friedrich Hillegeist-Straße 1
1021 Vienna, Austria
Tel: 43-503-03
Fax: 43-503-03-288-50
pva@pva.sozvers.at
www.sozvers.at

Opferfürsorge (Victim Relief) Benefits

Sozialamt der Stadt Wien
MA 12 - OFG
Schottenring 24
1010 Vienna, Austria
Tel: (43-1) 531-148-5379
Fax: (43-1) 531-148-5376
E-mail: post@m12.magwien.gv.at

The information presented herein is intended for information purposes only and solely as a general guide.The information is not intended as legal advice. It is a summary of specific issues and does not represent a definitive or complete statement of the programs and policies of the agencies or governments mentioned. The information may not address the special needs, interests and circumstances of individual recipients. Individual situations differ and recipients are urged to seek individual advice.Individuals seeking specific information on a program are urged to contact the relevant program or to consult their social service agency or help center representative. To the best of our knowledge the information is correct as of the date of this document and this information may change subsequent to the said date. Updated January 2010