Training allowance
Further education allowance is a social benefit which, according to the Austrian Unemployment Insurance Act §26 , is paid by the Public Employment Service to people on (educational) parental leave. A prerequisite for the purchase is an ongoing employment relationship in the sense of labor law. Since January 1, 1998, the AVRAG (Employment Contract Law Adjustment Act) provides for the possibility of educational leave (Section 11) or a leave of absence in exchange for wages (Section 12). To ensure economic security during this time, you can apply to the AMS for a further training allowance equal to the unemployment benefit.
The prerequisite in addition to the agreement with the employer is that there is an entitlement to unemployment benefit (“entitlement”) and that no activity above the marginal earnings limit is carried out. In place of the AVRAG, similar federal or state regulations can also apply.
- The educational leave according to § 11 AVRAG lasts between 2 months and one year. It is only possible from the beginning of the seventh month with the same employer. Here it must be proven that you have taken part in a further training measure of at least 20 hours per week (at universities: 4 SWS or 8 ECTS). (Special rules apply to seasonal employees and people with care responsibilities.)
- In the case of exemption according to § 12 AVRAG, the employer must provide evidence of the employment of a replacement worker who has previously received unemployment benefit or emergency assistance . The training allowance is also intended to create jobs for the unemployed. The possible duration here is between 6 months and a year.
However, the entitlement must be fulfilled (12 months of employment subject to unemployment insurance in the last two years when you first moved in, otherwise 6.5 months of employment subject to unemployment insurance in the last year)!
After rather moderate support, the further training allowance was made more attractive by the legislator in January 2008. Previously, the further training allowance for under 45-year-olds with the daily rate for childcare allowance (2008: 14.53 euros) was very low, now the amount of the generally much higher unemployment benefit applies to all age groups.
Web links
- Educational leave and part-time training at help.gv.at
- Information from the AMS on further training allowance
- Section 26 Unemployment Insurance Act - advanced training allowance
- § 11 AVRAG - educational leave
- § 12 AVRAG - exemption against payment of the fee
