Other Family Benefits in Austria by Province and Nationwide

Alongside Familienbeihilfe and Kinderbetreuungsgeld, Austria offers several smaller or less widely known forms of support for families with children. Some are provided by the Bundesländer and Gemeinden, while others are available through the AMS or employers. This overview explains the main options available in 2026 and where to ask for information.

Overview of the main options

• Some provinces and municipalities provide additional support to families with lower incomes. For example, Kärnten and Vorarlberg offer a Familienzuschuss.
• The AMS Kinderbetreuungsbeihilfe can provide up to 300 euros per month for childcare costs, normally in periods of 26 weeks.
• For this AMS assistance, monthly gross income must not exceed 2,700 euros and the child must be under 15 years old, or under 18 in the case of a certified disability.
• An employer may provide up to 2,000 euros per child and calendar year as a tax- and social-insurance-free childcare contribution.
• The Ämter der Landesregierungen provide information about provincial support.

What provincial family support is available?

The Bundesländer and Gemeinden can provide their own forms of support to parents and children if specific conditions are met. These schemes vary from one province to another, and there is no single nationwide rule covering them all.

• Kärnten and Vorarlberg: These provinces provide a Familienzuschuss for families with lower incomes.
• Support after the birth of a child: Many provinces offer additional assistance to families with newborn children.
• Familienpass: Several provinces issue a family card under different names and with different conditions. It can provide discounts for leisure activities and, depending on the province, may be available online.

The exact requirements, amounts and deadlines differ by province. Contact the relevant Ämter der Landesregierungen or your Gemeinde for current information.

Help at home around the time of birth

Charitable organisations can support families during a hospital stay and in the first weeks at home. Assistance may include household tasks and childcare. Examples include:

• the Familienhilfe der Caritas,
• Volkshilfe Österreich,
• Hilfswerk Österreich.

Under certain conditions, the province or municipality may cover part or all of the cost.

AMS Kinderbetreuungsbeihilfe: who can receive it?

If you have difficulty paying for a crèche, kindergarten or after-school care, the AMS (Arbeitsmarktservice) may contribute through the Kinderbetreuungsbeihilfe. This is separate from Kinderbetreuungsgeld.

The assistance is intended for:

• jobseekers and unemployed people,
• employees,
• people taking part in an AMS measure or the Unternehmensgründungsprogramm (UGP).

Support may be available if:

1. you have found a new job,
2. your financial situation has deteriorated significantly while working,
3. your working hours have changed substantially and the child therefore needs a new institution or another form of care, or
4. your previous childcare arrangement can no longer continue.

How much is the AMS assistance?

• Amount: up to 300 euros per month
• Length of one period: 26 weeks
• Extension: on application, for up to 156 weeks per child
• Income limit: monthly gross income of no more than 2,700 euros
• Child’s age: under 15 years old, or under 18 in the case of a certified disability

The child must live in the same household as you. Eligible childcare may include a Kinderkrippe, Kindergarten, Hort, Tagesmutter, Tagesvater or a similar authorised facility. Only the childcare costs themselves are recognised.

When and where must you apply?

A consultation with the responsible AMS office is required. The application must be submitted:

• before the job or AMS measure begins, and
• before the childcare starts.

It is therefore not possible to apply retrospectively. Contact the AMS in good time before the relevant start date.

Employer contributions towards childcare

Your employer may also contribute towards childcare. Up to 2,000 euros per child and calendar year, the contribution is exempt from tax and social-insurance contributions. Until 2023, the limit was 1,000 euros.

The main conditions are:

• you must submit a written declaration to your employer using the L35 form,
• you must personally receive Familienbeihilfe,
• you must inform your employer about the conditions and tell them if you receive a similar contribution from another employer.

The employer can pay the money directly to the caregiver or institution, or provide a voucher that can only be redeemed for institutional childcare. The employer may also reimburse some or all of the documented costs.

More information: Familienbeihilfe in Austria 2026.

Other nationwide benefits to know about

Other forms of parental support include tax deductions and allowances (Absetz- und Freibeträge), the Familienbonus Plus and Kindermehrbetrag, the Familienhärteausgleich, and the Familienhospizkarenz-Härteausgleich. Kinderbetreuungsgeld is covered separately in our guide to Kinderbetreuungsgeld in Austria 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Does every province offer a Familienzuschuss?

No. This type of support is available in Kärnten and Vorarlberg. The options in other provinces differ.

Is the AMS assistance the same as Kinderbetreuungsgeld?

No. The AMS Kinderbetreuungsbeihilfe contributes towards childcare costs, while Kinderbetreuungsgeld is a separate benefit.

How long can I receive the AMS assistance?

It is granted for 26 weeks at a time and can be extended on application for up to 156 weeks per child.

Can my employer pay the contribution to me in cash?

No. The contribution must be paid directly to the caregiver or institution, provided as a voucher, or used to reimburse documented costs.

Practical steps

1. Check the website or contact office of your Bundesland and Gemeinde for Familienzuschuss, Familienpass and newborn-family support.
2. Ask the Familienhilfe der Caritas, Volkshilfe Österreich or Hilfswerk Österreich whether household or childcare assistance is available and whether costs may be covered.
3. Contact the responsible AMS office before starting a new job, AMS measure or childcare arrangement.
4. Prepare the information needed for the AMS consultation, including your gross monthly income, the child’s age and the planned childcare arrangement.
5. Ask your employer about the childcare contribution and submit the L35 form and any required documentation.
6. Apply before the relevant work, AMS measure or childcare begins, because the AMS assistance cannot be claimed retrospectively.

This information is based on publicly available sources and does not constitute advice. Use it at your own responsibility. If you need professional guidance, contact a lawyer, legal professional, healthcare professional, employment-law or labour-market specialist, or another relevant expert.

Source: oesterreich.gv.at