This project analysed the effects of an introduction of a basic security for children in Austria. The rationale behind it was that monetary benefits for children should be stronger related to the material situation of the household and the (lacking) financial resources for children. While maintaining the hitherto existing level of financial support for all children almost entirely, families with low incomes and with social disadvantages would particularly benefit from the reform.
The design of the basic security for children is as follows:
All children below 18 years residing in Austria are entitled to the basic security. Based on reference budgets, the total benefit amounts up to EUR 625,- per child and month. It is paid twelve times a year. There is a universal component of EUR 200,- and a means-tested component of up to EUR 425,-. Below a taxable yearly family income of EUR 20.000,- the maximum amount of the means-tested component is paid; above a taxable yearly family income of EUR 35.000,- only the universal component is granted. In case of a taxable yearly family income between EUR 20.000,- and EUR 35.000,- the means-tested component is continuously phased-out between EUR 425,- and EUR 0.
The following monetary benefits would have been replaced by the basic security:
Note: The family bonus introduced in Austria in 2019 is not included in the baseline/reform scenario as the basic security for children represents a somewhat alternative model. Monetary benefits for children above 17 years remain the same.
For the analysis, the tax-/benefit microsimulation model EUROMOD/SORESI for the year 2018 was used based on EU-SILC 2016 data provided by Statistics Austria. The direct (monetary) consequences of the introduction of the basic security for children have been analysed on three levels:
Beyond the final report on the simulation of the basic security for children, the comparison of the distributive and fiscal outcomes of the family tax credit "Familienbonus Plus" introduced in 2019 by the Austrian government and of the basic security for children combines the findings of two research projects (the other one funded by the Austrian Chamber of Labour). The family tax credit mainly relieves working parents belonging to the middle class whereas the basic security for children would benefit mainly income-poor and disadvantaged families. The comparison was presented by Michael Fuchs and Katarina Hollan at the 3rd Research Conference of ESPAnet Austria on 26 April 2019 at the University of Innsbruck and published as European Centre Policy Brief 2019/3.
