Social & Retirement Benefits

Most social security issues are not handled by the Austrian Foreign Ministry. Thus, the information provided here is intended to just give you an overview of the issue. For more information, follow the many links provided.

The Embassy would like to inform you that the official language of Austria is German. Thus, the Embassy recommends that any letter sent to Austrian Social Security institutions should be written in German (if you write in English, your request/application will most likely be delayed). Please note that most information letters and forms you receive will also be written only in German. If you call Austria (remember: Vienna is six hours ahead of Montreal and Toronto and nine hours ahead of Vancouver), please try to speak German or have someone nearby who can speak and understand German.

Useful information as well as English-speaking contact persons in the Austrian Pension Agency (PVA) are listed in

Retirement benefits are in most cases be paid by the Austrian Pension Agency (PVA). (There are a few instances when other state insurance agencies might handle your case.) 

Main Office / Branch Office in VIENNA
Friedrich Hillegeist-Straße 1, 1021 Wien
Tel. 01143 503 030
Fax: 01143 50303 28850
E-Mail: pva(at)pva.sozvers.at oder pva-lsw(at)pva.sozvers.at

In order to receive an Austrian state pension, you need at least 180 covered months. The retirement age is 65 for men and 60 for women. Remember, you must apply for a pension. Detailed information is available at

Since November 1, 1987 [June 1, 1994] a social security agreement covering retirement issues (old age pension, disability pension, survivor pension) has been in place between Austria and Canada [Austria and Quebec]. It benefits people who worked and earned retirement benefit credits in both Austria and Canada.

Individuals now residing in Canada who once worked in Austria and who could potentially be eligible for retirement benefits from Austria must apply for an Austrian pension at "Human Resources and Social Development Canada." For further information, please visit the Department's web site.

If you both receive an Austrian pension and have your permanent residence in Austria, you are covered by the Austrian state health insurance system. If your permanent residence is outside Austria, you are not covered by the health system.

Individuals living permanently in Austria and who are not covered by the state health system may get coverage by paying monthly fees (similar to being covered by a private insurance company). There is a one-time waiting period of six months.

Austrian pensions (retirement benefits) paid by the Austrian Pension Agency can also be transferred directly to the foreign bank account of the individual receiving the pension. An application is needed.

Austrian pensions are subject to Austrian income tax. Due to the double taxation treaty between Austria and Canada, the pension is exempt from Canadian income tax.

Individuals, who were persecuted on political, religious, and/or racial grounds (victims of Nazi persecution) between March 4, 1933 and May 9, 1945, who emigrated, and who faced socio-legal disadvantages (e.g. due to their forced emigration from Austria, they were denied the right to make further contributions to the Austrian social security system) can retroactively buy pension credits for their time of emigration (up to March 31, 1959) at a reduced rate.

Individuals, who had not contributed to the Austrian social security system at the time of their emigration from Austria, must both have been born before or on March 12, 1938 and have lived (permanent residence) in Austria on March 12, 1938 to be eligible for the retroactive purchase of pension credits. You can buy up to 180 months of credit (even if it then exceeds the time limit of March 31, 1959).

Both regulations shall guarantee that victims of (Nazi) persecution can acquire at least as many credits as they need to be eligible for an Austrian pension (which is 180 months of credit). The application for a "Retroactive Purchase of Pension Credits" (Nachkauf) is to be sent to the Austrian Pension Agency (PVA). For further information, please contact the Agency directly. The reduced rate for one month of credit amounts to € 26.73 (in 2006) and is adjusted on an annual basis.

In order to be eligible for victim assistance benefits, you must either have been an Austrian citizen on March 13, 1938 or have lived in Austria continously for at least ten years prior to March 13, 1938. Further, you must have suffered either physical injuries or serious disadvantages (e.g. emigration for more than 42 months, forced to wear the "Judenstern" for at least six months) due to your active resistance against the Nazi regime and/or due to political beliefs, religion, nationality, or physical disabilities between March 6, 1933 and May 9, 1945. Widows, orphans, partners (common law spouses), and parents might also be eligible for benefits.

Note that you are also eligible for victim assistance benefits even if you do no longer hold Austrian citizenship. (in such a case, however, no formal document, called an "Amtsbescheinigung", will be issued).

For detailed information regarding eligibility and benefits, please contact:
Vienna City Department for Health and Social Services (Department 15): Schottenring 24, 1013 Wien
Phone: 01143 1 53114 ext. 87515 or 85371
Fax: 01143 1 53114 99 87510
E-mail: post@m15.magwien.gv.at

Victims of Nazi persecution who left Austria on political grounds, grounds of religion, or grounds of origin between March 4, 1933 and May 9, 1945 and who have not returned to Austria since are in most cases eligible for nursing care allowance (Pflegegeld) provided they receive a pension (Alterspension, etc.) and/or retirement benefits (Opferrente) from Austria. Please note that widows, widowers, and children of Nazi victims are not eligible for nursing care allowance.

In order to be eligible to apply for nursing allowance, retired persons, on account of illness or old age, must rely on a caregiver to perform daily necessities such as shopping, cooking or bathing, provided that attendance needs require more than 50 hours per month.

Please forward your application form to Human Resources and Social Development Canada. Note that a medical examination is required. The form the medical doctor has to fill out can be downloaded below.

Austrian citizens living in both Austria and abroad who were held captive as prisoners of war for at least three months during World War II, may apply for a POW allowance. The allowance ranges from € 14.53 to € 36.34 per month. The application should be filed with the Austrian Pension Agency (PVA) or, if no retirement benefits are collected from Austria, with the Federal Social Office (Bundessozialamt) in Vienna.

"Certificates of Life" provide evidence that the individual both living abroad and receiving Austrian social security benefits is still alive and therefore eligible to receive further payments of benefits. "Certificates of Life" must be forwarded to the competent Austrian Pension Agency once a year (usually at the beginning of the new calender year).

Individuals who need to submit a "certificate of life" to an Austrian Pension Agency should both come in person to an Austrian diplomatic post (Embassy or Consulate) and show a picture ID to a consular agent who in turn authenticates the "Certificate of Life" form. However, if the individual can not show up at the Embassy or a Consulate (due to e.g. illness, distance, etc.), a notary public may as well authenticate (notarize) the "Certificate of Life" form.