Vienna study finds 75% of refugee households rely on welfare support

Data compiled by Statistik Austria for the integration ministry examined the self‑sufficiency of families from the six main countries of origin—Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Chechnya (Russia) and Somalia. Out of roughly 103,000 Austrian households with at least one recognized refugee, subsidiary protection beneficiary or asylum seeker, 47 % cannot support themselves without social benefits; in Vienna the share rises to 75 %. The analysis, which did not factor in family allowances, highlights what officials describe as a failure of integration policy since the 2015 influx.

Opposition FPÖ politician Dominik Nepp blamed Mayor Michael Ludwig and the SPÖ for turning Vienna into a “social magnet”, citing nearly €1 billion spent on asylum‑related minimum assistance in 2025. Integration Minister Claudia Bauer said the government will tighten benefits for non‑working refugees, noting that unemployment among subsidised asylum seekers fell by more than a third after cuts to minimum support.

The findings have sparked political debate over welfare spending, integration success and the impact on Austrian taxpayers.