Familienbeihilfe
In Austria, the family allowance Familienbeihilfe granted regardless of employment or income. Polish citizens living and working in Austria can apply for family allowance. This is a family benefit paid by the Austrian tax office. Below you will find information about who can apply for benefits, how much family allowance is, what documents are required for the application and much more valuable information about family allowance.
Who is entitled to family allowance?
The child’s legal guardian who is legally employed in Austria or runs a business there is entitled to family allowance.
In order to apply for family allowance, the applicant must meet certain requirements. Theoretically, the applicant can be a person who is an Austrian citizen and has a permanent residence. However, it is sufficient to be a citizen of an EU country, to be employed in Austria and to pay social security contributions. Even if our children live in Poland, for example, we can receive family allowance for them.
The family allowance is granted for children up to the age of 18. When the child reaches the age of majority, the benefit is paid on the condition that the child continues to study.
How much is the family allowance?
Austria is the only country in the European Union that uses the so-called indexing, i.e. it reduces or increases family allowances depending on the purchasing power of a particular country. In practice, this increases family allowances for parents whose children live in wealthier countries than Austria, and reduces them for Polish or Czech children, for example.
Due to the above-mentioned indexation of benefits, children living in Poland are granted (monthly) the following amounts (as of January 2019):
57,57 EUR (children up to 2 years)
61,56 EUR (3 - 9 years)
71,46 EUR (10 - 18 years)
83,38 EUR (from 19 years)
In certain circumstances, due to coordination, only the difference between the 500+ benefit received in Poland and the family allowance is paid.
Can I apply for family allowance for previous years?
You can apply for family allowance up to 5 years back.
What documents are required to apply for family allowance?
Required documents for the application:
Confirmation of employment in Austria (employment contract) or business registration (economic activity)
Proof of earnings (pay slip) annually/monthly
Marriage certificate (preferably international)
Children’s birth certificates (preferably international)
Registration certificate in Austria
Registration certificate in Poland (+ translation)
Notice of receipt/non-receipt of family allowance in Poland (+ translation)
School certificate (for children aged 18 and over + translation)
Copy of the e-card insurance card
Copy of ID cards/passports
Austrian tax number
Copy of the Austrian tax return for the previous year – if submitted
Account details to which the service is to be transferred (IBAN + BIC/SWIFT)
The notification of changes in your life situation should be done on a special form – we will be happy to take care of all the formalities for you.
Family allowance, child-care allowance 500+ and Polish child benefit
Those who simultaneously receive Polish child benefit for their children in Poland should expect that the Austrian tax office will pay out the family allowance minus the amounts paid in Poland. If the applicant does not receive benefits in Poland, he submits a decision refusing to grant the right to benefits in Poland.
Kinderabsetzbetrag
The so-called child tax credit is paid out together with the family allowance. This is a surcharge in the form of a negative tax. A separate application for payment of this benefit is not necessary. The payment is made automatically together with the family allowance. The amount of the surcharge is €61.79 per month for each child (in 2022 it was €58.40 per child per month).
Where can I apply for the family allowance Familienbeihilfe?
In order to receive family allowance, you must submit an application to the Austrian tax office.
Below you will find a list of downloadable documents and the application form:
List of documents and family allowance form Familienbeihilfe
All relevant applications and forms are also available at TKTRANSLATE at Str. Staszica 12/1 in Krosno/Poland. We are also happy to provide any information over the telephone +48 13 49 32 575 or mail biuro@tktranslate.pl
We take care of all the formalities for you on an ongoing basis and monitor the status of your family allowance application with the Austrian authorities.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU!