Factsheet for measure
AT-2020-27/953
–
Updated
– measures in Austria
Lump-sum payments for unemployed and children
Einmalzahlung für Arbeitslose und Kinder
Background information
Austria has experienced record numbers in unemployment as a consequence of the Corona crisis. In their two-day coalition government meeting on 15 and 16 June, the federal government (consisting of the conservative People's Party ÖVP and the Green Party) announced several measures targeted towards boosting the economy, among them one-off payments for unemployed persons and for parents, both in September. The latter are to be supported at the start of the new school year.
Content of measure
Unemployed persons will receive a one-off payment of €450 in autumn. The condition is that they have received unemployment benefit or emergency unemployment assistance for at least 60 days between May and August. Furthermore, a one-off payment of €360 for each child for whom family allowance is drawn, is paid (i.e. this applies generally to all children up to the year in which they turn 19 years and beyond up to 24 years if they are enrolled in education/training, and to 25 in special cases). Both payments will be made automatically (i.e. no application needed) in September.
The measure applies to all persons having been at least 60 days unemployed between May and August 2020 and to all children for whom family allowance is drawn.
Updates
The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.
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15 December 2020
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In November, a second one-time lump payment for unemployed was decided in parliament becoming effective in December 2020 and January 2021. The second bonus is staggered: Depending on the duration of unemployment, between €150 and €450 are paid.
The maximum amount of €450 is paid to persons with at least 45 reference days of unemployment benefits received between September and November 2020; €300 is paid with at least 30 days of unemployment; and €150 is paid for those with at least 15 days of unemployment.
In addition, unemployed people who receive sick pay will also receive a one-off payment this time (they were excluded from the first payment in September).
The bonus will be paid in the months of December and January.
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Use of measure
According to the public employment service (AMS) data, only about half (i.e. 370,000) of the estimated 740,000 unemployed and training participants who received unemployment benefit or emergency unemployment assistance between April and August, received the one-off payment of €450. The rest was not eligible as they were either unemployed for less than 60 days, or their unemployment was (partially) before the calculation period between May and August or they were first on short-time work and became unemployed only later, also not meeting the criteria.
Target groups
Actors and funding
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Actors
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Funding
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National government
Public employment service
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National funds
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Social partners
Social partners' role in
designing the measure
and form of involvement:
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Trade unions
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Employers' organisations
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Role
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Informed
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Informed
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Form
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Not applicable
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Not applicable
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Social partners' role in the
implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
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No involvement
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Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level
Involvement
This is a unilateral government measure, the social partners were informed but not consulted.
Views and reactions
Organised labour strongly opposed the one-off payment for unemployed persons, as they had opted for an increase of the unemployment benefit from currently 55% to 70%.
Sources
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02 July 2020: Social Committee gives the green light for one-off payment to the unemployed and for child bonus
(www.parlament.gv.at)
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09 September 2020: Half of all Corona unemployed do not receive one-time payment
(www.momentum-institut.at)
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20 November 2020: National Council: The unemployed receive a further one-off payment of € 450 in December
(www.parlament.gv.at)
