Hofburg election, mandatory vaccination: What Austria expects in 2022
In 2022 Austria will enter the third year of the pandemic, with the third Federal Chancellor since then. Not only are the heads of the government team partly new, a new Federal President could also move into the Hofburg. Alexander Van der Bellen has not yet announced his decision whether to run again for the highest office in the state. For most parliamentary parties, however, it probably depends on whether they send someone into the race. If the usual deadlines remain, November 13th could be election Sunday today.
Otherwise, Austria has several regional polls ahead of it: Tyrol elects local councilors and mayors on February 27, Burgenland also elects in autumn. The municipal councils are to be elected in two statutory towns in Lower Austria: in Waidhofen an der Ybbs on January 30th, in Krems in autumn. There are no state elections today – given the political turbulence of the old year, it is of course open whether the National Council, which WILL move back into the parliament building after the renovation, WILL BE elected.
“Vaccination cut-off date” for the first time in March
The pandemic will be 22 especially right at the beginning due to the omicron variant 20. The spread of the virus should be put to a stop from February by the general compulsory vaccination. It will apply to all persons with their main or secondary residence in Austria over the age of 14. You must have a vaccination status that includes all vaccinations that the Minister of Health stipulates by ordinance (on the recommendation of the National Vaccination Board).
In addition to children under the age of 14, pregnant women and people with health reasons are also exempt from the obligation to vaccinate. There are quarterly “vaccination deadlines”, the first being March 15, 2022. Unvaccinated people are reminded every quarter to be vaccinated by the next “vaccination deadline” or to make an exception. Penalties are imminent.
In the case of a “due process”, the penalty is up to 3,600 euros. Alternatively, an “abbreviated procedure” can be carried out, with fines of up to 600 euros. It was unclear until the very end how the lockdown for unvaccinated people would continue in the new year.
Tax reform brings and takes money
Apart from that, 2022 will bring the entry into tax ecologization and in return the climate bonus: the income will be redistributed for the first time in the second half of the year via the climate bonus.
What is certain is that adults are paid between 100 and 200 euros in order to cushion the additional costs through higher energy prices. The exact amount depends on where you live: with 100 euros, the Viennese get the least, which the government justifies with the well-developed public transport system. Everywhere the following applies: the more rural the community and the worse the “public transport”, the higher the bonus. Children receive half.
The price of CO2 is likely to make gasoline more expensive by nine cents per liter, diesel and heating oil by ten cents and natural gas by seven cents for ten kilowatt hours of heating output. The price is then expected to rise to 35, 45 and 55 euros per ton by 2025. There are also tightening of the standard consumption tax, motor-related insurance tax and private use of company cars. The digital driver’s license is finally BECOMING a reality, and (almost) all of Vienna BECOMES a short-term parking and parking sticker zone from March. Those who don’t have a car will soon be able to use more night train connections (e.g. to Paris) and more local and regional transport.
Electricity customers save themselves the total cost of green electricity in the new year, not just two thirds of them, as previously assumed. This will reduce the burden on an average household by around 110 euros a year compared to 2021. If the boiler needs to be replaced, you can now apply for increased funding. The withdrawal from oil and gas heating in single-family and terraced houses, but also in multi-storey residential buildings, is being promoted. In addition, the installation of e-charging stations and photovoltaic systems should be made easier.
Family bonus increases
The rest of the tax reform will be carried out in stages: On January 1, the second level of wage and income tax will drop from 35 to 32.5 percent, and in 2023 it will drop to 30 percent. The family bonus increases from a maximum of 1,500 to 2,000 euros per child and year. Those who earn too little to take full advantage of the tax bonus will receive up to 450 euros a year (instead of a maximum of 250 euros previously).
The government originally wanted to lower social security contributions for low incomes. The ÖVP and the Greens have said goodbye to this after criticism, in particular from the social security system. Instead, the negative tax for low wage earners is now being increased. This means that the social security contributions are not reduced, but are partially reimbursed retrospectively. Anyone who pays so little that he pays no wage tax will in future receive a maximum of 650 euros per year instead of 400 euros. For retirees, the retirement tax credit will be increased to EUR 825 or EUR 1,214 (previously EUR 600 or EUR 964). However, this can only be applied for for the first time in 2023 for the year 2022.
“Early starter bonus” and home office flat rate
The expected inflation will also cause salaries to rise significantly in the coming year, the average increase is around the percent. This is the upper limit for pensions. The discount-free early retirement – also known as the hacker’s regulation – is no longer available, but the “early starter bonus” comes. The care allowance is also adjusted for inflation with a plus of 1.8 percent.
In the coming year, many economic aid programs that are already known from the coronavirus crisis will continue to run. The hardship fund and the default bonus are available to companies again for the period November 2021 to March 2022. The home office flat rate comes for the employed: self-employed people can deduct costs that are incurred in the home office, for example for rent, electricity or heating, for the first time in 2022 as a flat-rate tax.
Up until now, it was necessary to provide individual receipts for operational expenses in the home office. The expenditure can be used for the first time in the assessment for 2022, also at the beginning of 2023. Dependent employees are already a year earlier.
Child care should become more flexible
In the coming year there will also be a new 15a agreement with the federal states regarding childcare. The current one only runs until August 2022. The federal government has promised more money for childcare. Here, emphasis should be placed on three focal points: The opening times of childcare must be extended and more flexible, there should be more places for under three-year-olds and early language support, also from an integration point of view.
In the case of income-related child care allowance and the allowance for child care allowance accounts, the additional income limit is to be increased. From 2022 this will increase from the current EUR 7,300 to EUR 7,600 per year. Furthermore, the funds for the family counseling centers and child protection centers are to be increased by three million euros and the budget for school books is to be increased again, specifically by six million euros. A total of 130.6 million euros will be made available from the family burden compensation fund.
“Digital basic education” in schools
In the school year, the distribution of inexpensive laptops and tablets began, and in autumn 2022 there will be a new compulsory subject: In the first four classes of AHS lower level and middle school, “digital basic education” will be on the timetable for each school level in future. In 2022, the summer school will also be open to students without special needs for the first time. Also new in 2022 is that school cancellations for the next school year will be announced before the start of the summer holidays. There is also additional money for hotspot schools. 100 schools with special requirements are involved, such as a large number of children who do not speak German in everyday language or from parents who are poorly educated.
PISA and PLUS
Between May 20 and April 30, 2022, a sample of around 9,500 15- and 16-year-old schoolchildren will again take the tests for the PISA study. In spring 2022, all pupils in third grade elementary school will also take part in the individual competence measurement PLUS (iKMPLUS) in German (reading) and mathematics for the first time. The iKMPlus premiere will follow in autumn 2022 for all pupils in the third grade of AHS lower level or middle school in German (reading), mathematics and English.
A minimum course achievement for first-year students will be introduced at the universities. Anyone who starts a bachelor’s or diploma degree in the winter semester 2022/23 or later on October 1st, must achieve at least 16 ECTS points in this degree in the first two years of study. That is just under an eighth of the specified standard period of study.
Death will come
2022 will bring major legal innovations in matters of euthanasia: Under strong conditions, assisted suicide WILL be allowed for seriously or terminally ill people. In order to prevent misuse of the new “death will”, a number of conditions must be met: The person concerned must be of legal age. Two doctors have to confirm that she is capable of making decisions. The disease has to be clear – and an educational talk with a doctor has to be held.
Once this has been done, a “death warrant” can be drawn up with a notary or patient advocate after a period of twelve weeks – for people who have only two weeks left to do so. This gives access to a lethal preparation. This is done in pharmacies. Active euthanasia remains prohibited.