NATIONAL LABOUR MARKET POLICIES
Basic Information Reports
2.5.1.2.Emergency assistance
(Notstandshilfe)
Emergency assistance, which is payable on expiry of entitlement to unemployment benefit, combines the principles of social insurance and welfare: firstly, the rate of emergency assistance is calculated on the basis of the unemployment benefit previously received and is equal to no more than 92 or 95% of the basic rate (95% for a basic rate of less than ATS 7,992); secondly, applicants must be in serious need of support, after taking the income of the partner and exemption limits into account (exemption limit for partners in 1998: ATS 5,696; one child: ATS 2,870; basis of assessment: 30 days). The basic rate of emergency assistance is reduced in proportion to the amount of income exceeding the exemption allowance.
Should the duration of receipt of emergency assistance exceed six months, a (graded) maximum rate may be fixed on the basis of the previous duration of receipt of unemployment benefit, i.e. ATS 7,992 monthly for 20 weeks' receipt and ATS 9,220 monthly for 30 weeks' receipt.
The condition of entitlement for emergency assistance is that the unemployed person either:
1. proves that he/she was in contributory employment for 416 weeks (eight years) within the previous ten years, or
2. attended and completed at least half of his/her compulsory schooling in Austria prior to the age of 25, or
3. was born in Austria, or
4. was authorised to reside permanently in Austria for at least half of his/her life.
Unlike the regulations pertaining to unemployment benefit, reasonable employment for those in receipt of emergency assistance also includes employment which will undermine the beneficiary's chances of returning to his/her previous occupation, provided that he/she has no hope of finding work in his/her original occupation in the foreseeable future.
Emergency assistance is payable for one year and may be extended indefinitely by application, provided that the qualifying conditions are fulfilled; foreign workers in possession of a dispensation certificate may draw this benefit for a maximum duration of 52 weeks.
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