Minimum security

You are in a financial emergency situation as defined by the Tyrolean Minimum Income Security Act and cannot cover your living expenses, your housing needs or the needs arising from illness with your own resources (income and assets) and the support of third parties, or cannot cover them completely? Then you can apply for minimum income support. Find out here which requirements must be met in order to apply, where you can get advice or submit the application for minimum income support, and which documents are required.

What is minimum income support?

The minimum income support is a financial support for persons in emergency situations who cannot cover their living costs with their own means (income, maintenance, pension, etc.). The minimum security is intended to ensure subsistence and housing.

According to the Tyrolean Minimum Security Act (TMSG), minimum security is to be granted to persons, among others,

• who are in an emergency situation,
• who are threatened by an emergency situation, if the occurrence of the emergency situation can be averted by the minimum security.

What exactly constitutes an emergency situation can be found in § 2 TMSG. For example, you are in an emergency situation if you cannot pay for your livelihood, your housing needs or the needs in case of illness, pregnancy and childbirth or for a simple funeral and cannot get any funds or help from third parties for this purpose.

What requirements do I have to meet to apply for minimum income support?

Who is entitled to minimum benefits?

• Austrian citizens
• Persons treated as Austrian citizens (e.g. EU citizens) if they are entitled to permanent residence in Austria under the provisions of the law on foreign nationals.

Persons who are not equivalent to Austrian citizens are only entitled to basic benefits under private law.

EU citizens who are not gainfully employed and nationals of other signatory states to the EEA Agreement and Switzerland, as well as their family members and persons pursuant to § 3 Para. 3 TMSG are not entitled to benefits during the first drei months of their stay. After the drei months have expired, these persons are only entitled to minimum benefits if they have a legal residence permit.

Where do I submit the application and receive advice?

You come to the Service Center area of City Department Social There you will receive both advice and information. At this initial point of contact, the application forms are handed out. When you hand in your application, the required documents are checked for completeness and competence (Innsbruck citizens).

What documents do I need to submit the application?

1. Minimum Income Support application form or Minimum Income Support renewal application form
2. Valid photo ID
3. Residence permit (e.g. positive asylum decision, Red-White-Red Card, etc.)
4. Statement of account showing transactions and balance for the last three months (available from your bank’s counter) or full bank statements for the last three months
5. For those unable to work: relevant medical certificates
6. For those able to work: evidence of job-seeking efforts (e.g. confirmation of appointments with the AMS, confirmations from companies regarding interviews attended, etc.)
7. For recognised refugees: evidence of integration efforts (confirmations of German language courses, job-seeking activities where sufficient German language skills are demonstrated)
8. Income documents for the applicant and for any dependants or persons liable for maintenance living in the same household (payslips, AMS statements, pension notices, proof of maintenance payments, rent allowance, housing allowance, sickness benefit, childcare allowance, rehabilitation allowance, etc.)
9. Tenancy agreement and current rent statement showing a breakdown of rent and service charges
10. for recognised refugees: evidence of the amount of basic provision
11. other documents and proof of assets (divorce settlement, savings book, life insurance policy, building society savings contract, vehicle registration certificate, etc.)
12. For EU and Swiss citizens: a registration certificate from the fourth month of residence onwards or proof of legal residence under immigration law.