Social Security Benefits

The following additional social benefits for victims of National Socialism entered into force on 1 March 2002:

Disbursement of Attendance Allowance up to category 7.
Persons who between 4 March 1933 and 9 May 1945 emigrated on political grounds, on grounds of religion or origin (13 March 1938 - 9 May 1945) and who live abroad as a consequence of such emigration will - under the requirements of the Federal Law on Attendance Allowance - be entitled to a monthly benefit corresponding to the respective amount of "Pflegegeld" (Attendance Allowance) for categories 1 to 7. Until now such persons were entitled to an allowance corresponding to category 2. Only persons receiving an Austrian pension according to B) or C) - see below - are eligible for attendance allowance.

For further information please contact:

Austrian Embassy London
Mrs. Trude Desmond
Tel: 020 7344 3273
Fax: 020 7344 0292
Email: consulate.london-ob(at)bmeia.gv.at

Pensionsversicherungsanstalt
Friedrich-Hillegeist-Strasse 1
A-1021 Vienna
Tel: +43-503 03
Fax: +43-503 03 28850
Email: pva(at)pva.sozvers.at

Extension of the preferential right to retroactively purchase pension rights for persons born between 1 January 1933 and 8 May 1945.

Persons who were born between 1 January 1933 and 12 March 1938 and had their domicile on the territory of the Republic of Austria on 12 March 1938 may - under the other requirements of § 502 of the General Social Security Act - pay contributions to the pension system for the time of emigration at a preferential rate. Contributions may also be paid retroactively for the time after 31 March 1959 for a maximum of 180 months altogether.

Persons who were born between 13 March 1938 and 8 May 1945 and were persecuted in Austria or another country and at least one parent had his/her residence on the territory of the Republic of Austria on 12 March 1938 or had their domicile on the territory of the Repbulic of Austria on 12 March 1938.

For further information please contact:

Austrian Embassy London
Mrs. Trude Desmond
Tel: 020 7344 3273
Fax: 020 7344 0292
Email: consulate.london-ob(at)bmaa.gv.at

Pensionsversicherungsanstalt (Pension Office)
Friedrich-Hillegeist-Strasse 1
A-1021 Vienna
Tel: +43-503 03-0
Fax: +43-503 03 28850
Email: pva(at)pva.sozvers.at

For advice in English please contact

Mr. Erwin Galli
Tel: +43-503 03 28817
Email: erwin.galli(at)pva.sozvers.at   and

Mr. Jörg Gollenbeck
Tel: +43-503 03 28820
Email: joerg.gollenbeck(at)pva.sozvers.at

No requirements of citizenship for pensions under § 11 of the Victims Assistance Act:

Persons who were refused an official certificate (Amtsbescheinigung) based on a damage according to the Victims Assistance Act exclusively for lack of Austrian citizenship after 27 April 1945 will be entitled a pension according to § 11 of the Victims Assistance Act.

Abolition of the 6 years' age limit in § 1(2) lit. f of the Victims Assistance Act (forced emigration):

The group of entitled persons under the Victims Assistance Act will be enlarged. The minimum requirement of 6 years of age of applicants at the time of forced emigration on political grounds, on grounds of race, origin, religion or nationality will be abolished. Such emigration has to have lasted at least three and a half years.

For further information regarding benefits under the Victims Assistance Act please contact:

Austrian Embassy London
Mrs. Trude Desmond
Tel: 020 7344 3273
Fax: 020 7344 0292
Email: consulate.london-ob(at)bmaa.gv.at

Amt der Wiener Landesregierung
Magistratsabteilung 40 - Referat Opferfürsorge
Thomas-Klestil-Platz 8
A-1030 Vienna
Tel: +43-1-4000 40712
Fax: +43-1-4000 9940712
Email: post-sre(at)ma40.wien.gv.at