Care Leave and Reduced Hours for Family Care in Austria

If a close relative suddenly needs care, Austria offers options to take time away from work or reduce your working hours while you organise their care. Financial support is available during this period. The key arrangements are Pflegekarenz (care leave) and Pflegeteilzeit (reduced working hours for care).

What are Pflegekarenz and Pflegeteilzeit?

Both are temporary solutions for the period in which you organise or reorganise a care situation—for example, after a sudden need for care or to relieve another carer.

• Pflegekarenz: a complete interruption of employment. You do not receive your normal salary during this period.
• Pflegeteilzeit: reduced working hours, with your salary reduced proportionally. Working hours can be reduced to a maximum of 10 hours per week.

During this period, you are protected against dismissal based on your exercising this right (Motivkündigungsschutz). You also receive contribution-free health and pension insurance, with the contributions paid by the state (Bund). You continue to build up an entitlement to severance pay (Abfertigungsanspruch).

Who can use these arrangements?

Eligibility may apply to:

• employees in private-law employment,
• federal, provincial and municipal employees,
• people receiving unemployment benefit (Arbeitslosengeld) or emergency assistance (Notstandshilfe), but only for Pflegekarenz. They can deregister from the benefit with the AMS.

Which relatives qualify?

A close relative includes, among others, a spouse, partner or registered partner and their children; parents, grandparents, adoptive, step- and foster parents; children, grandchildren, stepchildren, adopted and foster children; siblings; and parents-in-law, sons-in-law and daughters-in-law. You do not have to live in the same household.

Other requirements

• The person receiving care must be entitled to at least care allowance level 3 (Pflegegeld). For a minor or a relative with dementia, level 1 is sufficient.
• You must have had at least three months of uninterrupted employment immediately beforehand.
• You must have a written agreement with your employer, or use the arrangement based on the statutory entitlement.

If you had only marginal employment (geringfügig) before Pflegekarenz, you are not entitled to Pflegekarenzgeld or to the related health and pension insurance.

How long can Pflegekarenz or Pflegeteilzeit last?

Pflegekarenz or Pflegeteilzeit can be agreed for between one and three months. It must be taken as one continuous period and cannot be split into separate parts.

For the same person receiving care, it can normally be used only once per employment relationship. It may be agreed once more if the person’s care allowance level increases by at least one level.

Several relatives can take leave for the same person. For example, two siblings can each take up to three months for the same parent during different periods, giving a total of six months. However, Pflegekarenzgeld can be paid for one person receiving care for a maximum total of 12 months.

• One relative: 1–3 months
• At least two relatives: maximum six months in total
• After an increase in the care allowance level: up to three additional months per person
• Pflegekarenzgeld for one person receiving care: maximum 12 months in total

Statutory entitlement without an employer agreement

Employees of companies with more than five employees have a statutory entitlement to two weeks of Pflegekarenz or Pflegeteilzeit. You must notify your employer of the starting date. If requested, you must provide evidence of the need for care and make the family relationship plausible within one week.

If no agreement is reached on an extension during this period, you are entitled to a further maximum of two weeks, giving a total of four weeks. These periods count towards the maximum period available under an agreement.

In an acute care situation, if you notify your employer that you intend to take Pflegekarenz, the care allowance procedure is generally completed within two weeks under the accelerated procedure.

How much is Pflegekarenzgeld?

• Pflegekarenz: the same amount as unemployment benefit: 55% of daily net income, but at least the monthly marginal-earnings threshold (Geringfügigkeitsgrenze).
• Pflegeteilzeit: a proportional amount based on the reduction in working hours, with a minimum of the proportional part of the marginal-earnings threshold.
• After deregistering from AMS benefits: the amount of the most recently received benefit, but at least the monthly marginal-earnings threshold.

A child supplement (Kinderzuschlag) is also payable for dependent children. For reduced working hours, the basic amount is calculated from the difference between the average gross salary before the reduction and the salary received during the period, excluding special payments. If working hours are reduced by half, the support is at least half of the monthly marginal-earnings threshold.

Applications for Pflegekarenzgeld are handled by the Sozialministeriumservice. The period during which the benefit is paid does not disadvantage your later unemployment benefit entitlement because the qualifying reference period is extended.

When must you apply?

1. Within two months of the start: the payment is made from the first day.
2. After two months but before the leave ends: the payment is made only from the date of application.
3. After the leave has ended: the application is rejected as late.

If you used the statutory entitlement and no further agreement was reached, you can apply before the end of the period, but no later than two months after the start. In this case, the payment is made retroactively.

Hospice leave for serious illness

For accompanying a dying relative or caring for a seriously ill child, you may take family hospice leave (Familienhospizkarenz) or hospice-based reduced working hours. In this situation, Pflegekarenzgeld is payable for the entire period: up to six months in each case when accompanying a dying relative, or up to nine months for a seriously ill child.

For a complete interruption of employment, additional support called Familienhospizkarenz-Härteausgleich may also be requested, including together with Pflegekarenzgeld. Its income limit for calculation is 1,500 euros. For applications submitted by 31 August 2026, the limit was 1,200 euros. The amount is multiplied by a factor depending on the size of the household.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to live with the relative receiving care?

No. Living in the same household is not a requirement.

Can several siblings take leave for the same parent?

Yes. They can take leave during different periods, for up to three months each. Pflegekarenzgeld is nevertheless payable for one person receiving care for a maximum total of 12 months.

Can I divide three months into several shorter periods?

No. Pflegekarenz and Pflegeteilzeit cannot be taken in separate parts.

Do I receive insurance during this period?

Yes. Health and pension insurance apply, with the contributions paid by the state. This does not apply if your previous employment was only marginal employment.

Practical steps

1. Check whether the person receiving care has the required Pflegegeld level: normally at least level 3, or level 1 for a minor or a relative with dementia.
2. Confirm that you have completed at least three months of uninterrupted employment immediately beforehand.
3. Decide whether complete Pflegekarenz or reduced working hours through Pflegeteilzeit is suitable.
4. Notify your employer and request a written agreement. If your employer has more than five employees, check whether the statutory two-week entitlement applies.
5. Gather evidence of the care requirement and documents showing the family relationship.
6. Submit the Pflegekarenzgeld application to the Sozialministeriumservice within two months of the start if you want payment from the first day.

This information is based on publicly available sources and is not legal, employment or medical advice. For advice specific to your situation, consult a lawyer, legal professional, healthcare professional, employment-law or labour-market specialist, or another appropriate adviser.

Source: oesterreich.gv.at