Housekeeping Act

The Home Care Act applies in Austria for occupants who are at level three care as well as for those in care level one and two that due to dementia , a round-the-clock care need by relatives or professional carers.

This means that there should also be public funding for care at home from care level three. The House Care Act, Federal Law Gazette I No. 33/2007 is a federal act that enacts provisions on caring for people in private households (House Care Act, abbreviated as: HBeG). It came into force on July 1, 2007. The resulting costs are shared by the federal states and the federal government.

Regulations on working hours

When it comes to working hours, a precise distinction must be made between working hours, willingness to work and working period. The agreed working hours must be at least 48 hours per week. Another requirement is similar to the au pair status: The caregiver must be accepted into the household of the person to be looked after for the duration of the working period and receive living space and full board there.

In two consecutive weeks, the working time, including availability for work, must not exceed 128 hours. Daily working hours are to be interrupted by breaks of at least three hours in total. No work readiness may be agreed for this time. In the context of work readiness, work may only take place for a maximum of 11 hours per day.

After a working period of a maximum of 14 days, continuous free time of at least the same duration must be granted (14 days of work, 14 days off or 7 days of work, 7 days off, etc.).

Social security contributions

For family carers who take out self-pension insurance, the federal government will in future pay the entire social security contributions, i.e. not just the employer's share, from care level five. For those in stage four, the federal government pays half of the costs.