Claims & tips
Claims & tips
Valuable tips on claims & more
If you have a hearing impairment, you can take advantage of a wide range of support from various institutions in Austria. Here you can find a list of your rights, funding entitlements, grants and other tips that can be helpful in everyday life.
Table of contents
Financial support
Below you can find external links to the respective responsible offices. This data is regularly checked to ensure that it is up to date. Should you nevertheless come across incorrect information or if if you find any important information missing, we would be pleased to hear from you so that this page can be updated immediately.
Determination of the degree of disability
In order to be able to assert any claims, the degree of disability of your child must be determined. This is measured according to the type and severity of the functional impairment by the so-called EVO assessment regulation.
You can find more information at https://sozialministeriumservice.at/
Increased family allowance
The increased family allowance is paid in addition to the family allowance and is payable for as long as the general family allowance is granted. The prerequisite for receiving the increased family allowance is a 50% degree of disability of the child or, if the child is of legal age, the possible fact that the child is permanently unable to support him/herself.
The office responsible for applying for the increased family allowance is the local tax office.
If you are applying for or receiving care allowance for the child, please make sure you inform the institution paying the care allowance that you are applying for or receiving the increased family allowance for the child. Please note that an amount of € 60 from the increased family allowance will be deducted from the care allowance.
Care allowance
Care allowance can be received if the following conditions are met:
- Permanent need for care and assistance due to a physical, mental or psychological disability or sensory impairment that is expected to last at least six months
- Permanent need for care of at least more than 65 hours per month
- Habitual residence in Austria, whereby care allowance can also be granted in the EEA area as well as in Switzerland under certain conditions
The amount of the care allowance is determined in seven stages, depending on the extent of the care required and regardless of the cause of the need for care.
You can apply for care allowance from your social insurance provider:
- Pension insurance institution
- Insurance Institution for Public Employees, Railways and Mines (BVAEB)
- Social insurance for the self-employed (SVS)
Further information can be found in the brochure: "Information on care allowance - explained in plain language"
Disability pass
The disability pass is an official photo ID and serves as standardized proof of a disability (regardless of the type of disability). Persons with a degree of disability or a reduction in earning capacity of at least 50 percent who are resident or ordinarily resident in Austria are entitled to a disability pass.
You submit the application to the Social Ministry Service. Having a disability pass does not entitle you to any financial benefits. However, by presenting the document (sometimes also in other EU countries) you will receive discounts, for example on admission to various cultural and leisure facilities, events, sights, excursion destinations, ski resorts, public transportation, etc.
Tax equalization
As part of the annual employee tax assessment, taxpayers can claim costs for extraordinary expenses due to the disability of a child.
Flat-rate allowances:
If the child does NOT receive an increased family allowance, an annual allowance is granted depending on the degree of disability (but at least 25 percent). No deductible is applied, but no care-related cash benefits may be drawn.
If increased family allowance is received for the child, a monthly allowance is granted. However, this must be reduced by any care-related cash benefits received.
Instead of the allowances, non-regular expenses for aids (e.g. hearing aids etc.) can be claimed.
Furthermore, costs for medical treatment can be claimed in addition to the flat-rate allowances. These include doctor and hospital costs, spa costs for medically prescribed cures, therapy costs, costs for medication in connection with disabilities and associated travel costs. (actual costs or official mileage allowance)
Broadcasting fee (ORF contribution)
Beneficiaries with disabilities have the option of applying for an exemption from broadcasting fees.
Learn more
Green electricity flat rate
Exemption or capping of green electricity subsidy costs - disabled people with a disability have the option of applying for an exemption from the green electricity flat rate.
Cell phone tariffs
Some mobile phone providers offer special, often discounted tariffs for people with hearing impairments:
Valuable tips
Additional supporting technology
Useful additional devices for hearing implant users, such as alarm systems, FM systems, streaming devices, etc., are offered by the company ihrzubeHÖR and the ZENTRUM HÖREN:
Migration & Diversity
Hearing and language support for implanted children relies heavily on the active cooperation of the parents. For families with a migration background, this very often means that communication with the child at home is primarily in the mother tongue. This gives the child the opportunity to participate in social family life right from the start.
Nevertheless, your child will be confronted with the national language from kindergarten age at the latest and will therefore grow up bilingual - an additional challenge for your child with a hearing impairment. This means that you as parents also need to be as well informed as possible so that nothing stands in the way of your child's positive development.
Here you will find contacts for support and the opportunity to exchange ideas in order to provide you as parents with the best possible support during this time, despite possible language barriers:
Insurance
After cochlear implantation, the initial fitting of the audio processor takes place at the clinic around three to four weeks later. The audio processor is a high-tech device with a monetary value of at least € 10,000. Even if Austria's social insurance companies cover repairs and services, this does not apply to loss, theft and misuse.
For this reason, it is advisable to take out private insurance for voice processors. Both Allianz and Donau-Versicherung offer corresponding insurance policies.
Here you can find the forms of both insurance providers: Insurance forms
It is not what we experience, but how we feel,
what we experience determines our destiny.
Marie Baroness von Ebner-Eschenbach
