The funding amount is at least 50 and a maximum of 2,000 euros per household per year and applies to private living areas (e.g. painting, kitchen installation, tiling, etc.). 300 million euros are available from the state budget. The application must be made online; the website will be online in the coming weeks, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
The maximum amount of 2,000 euros is only available this year, next year it will only be 1,500 euros. Several invoices can be combined in one application; the invoices must show the work performed separately and must be kept. To identify the applicant, it is necessary to register using ID Austria or upload a valid photo ID. The ministry emphasized in a press release today that there should be “institutional assistance” for those who are not well-versed online. The Federal Accounting Agency is the processor.
Economics Minister Martin Kocher (ÖVP) today also provided two examples of what and how much money is available for: If the facade is rebuilt for 10,000 euros, there is a 2,000 euro bonus. If you repaint for 500 euros, you get 100 euros. “The craftsmen’s bonus is an important contribution to boosting the construction industry and supporting craft businesses,” said the minister.
Praise from the government, criticism from the opposition
There was a lot of praise for the craftsmen’s bonus today from the government and business representatives, but criticism came from the opposition. “The government is currently demonstrating how a good idea like the craftsmen’s bonus can be destroyed again by de facto excluding older people in Austria from this funding,” said the deputy SPÖ club chairwoman Eva-Maria Holzleitner, referring to the bonus can only be applied for online.
FPÖ social spokeswoman Dagmar Belakowitsch said: “The ÖVP minister’s inhumane neoliberal policy with its icy coldness is once again striking mercilessly. Older people in particular who are not familiar with computers, don’t own one or can’t handle them well are the ones who are Denied access to this funding.”
However, Elisabeth Götze, business spokeswoman for the Green Party, emphasized: “The application will be possible online, which has proven to be very successful. We are expecting a large rush and are making around 300 million euros available for this.” ÖVP club chairman August Wöginger added: For those people who have only limited options for applying online, relatives or neighbors can also do this.
This article was updated at 2:37 p.m.
