Funding to Increase the Remuneration for Care Staff in Disability Support Services

The federal government and the state of Styria provide earmarked subsidies to increase the wages of care and support staff in officially approved facilities for disability assistance in Styria. Funding is granted to operators of mobile, semi-residential, and residential facilities who are obligated by wage-determining regulations to pay extraordinary wage increases. The measure aims to ensure adequate remuneration and cover additional services arising from shifts in staff competencies. Payments are made from November 28, 2022, and are possible until the funding volume is exhausted. Eligible for funding are non-profit organizations, public institutions, and companies in the fields of social affairs, health, as well as labor & social affairs.

Only extraordinary wage increases for members of the higher service of health and nursing care, nursing assistants, or care assistants according to GuKG, as well as diploma and specialist social caregivers and home helpers according to StSBBG, are considered eligible expenses. A prerequisite is the employer’s obligation to pay these increases and proof of operating a disability assistance facility. Applications can be submitted continuously as long as funds are available. The responsible authority for processing is Department 11 "Social Affairs, Labor and Integration" at the Office of the Styrian State Government, which coordinates all funding requirements as well as the application and payment process.