Support Services for Business Owners During Prolonged Illness

The support benefit for self-employed individuals with long-term illness in Vienna is aimed at self-employed persons in small businesses whose continued operation largely depends on the personal work performance of the owners. From the 43rd day of incapacity to work, a fixed daily amount can be applied for, which is granted retroactively from the fourth day and can be claimed for a maximum of 20 weeks per illness. This financial support aims to secure the liquidity of small enterprises with regularly fewer than 25 employees even during extended periods of illness, thereby maintaining employment relationships and business structures. The amount of the fixed daily sum is adjusted annually and granted as a subsidy to cushion unforeseen loss of income.

Companies and private self-employed individuals in Vienna can submit the application at any time, as there is no deadline restriction. A formal certificate of incapacity to work confirming the long-term illness is required. The funding measure is based on §§ 104a and 104b of the Commercial Social Insurance Act and is continued indefinitely. This social security measure is intended to strengthen livelihoods, secure jobs, and enable health recovery processes without the pressure of economic threat. Interested businesses can find all relevant information at Section II of the Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection.