Family Allowance for Students: Everything You Need to Know

Written by: Kerstin Lakits, 25.11.2021

Studying can be expensive: rent, tuition fees, public transport, and more can quickly drain your purse. But did you know that students in Austria can receive up to €200.40 per month in family allowance?

The family allowance is a monthly payment that parents, or in some cases, adult students themselves, can receive under certain conditions. It is intended to ensure that young people can complete their studies regardless of their financial situation.

However, the numerous details about eligibility, income limits, amount, direct payments, and so on can sometimes be a bit confusing. Here’s a compact overview of the most important facts about family allowance for students.

Table of Contents:

Who is eligible for Family Allowance? These are the requirements you must meet

Family allowance is usually granted to the parents of students – up until your 24th or 25th birthday, provided you’re in education, studying seriously, and staying below the income limit. Under certain conditions, you can also apply for it yourself.

Tip: Ask your parents if they’ve already applied for family allowance – the application is free, can be done retroactively, and can be paid directly into your account if desired.

In the following sections, you’ll learn the exact eligibility requirements and what students in particular need to watch out for.

Who is entitled to Family Allowance?

Technically, you don’t have a direct entitlement to family allowance but your parents do. The financial support is intended to help them cover the cost of raising their children. Since 2015, family allowance has been paid out automatically with the birth of a child.

For parents to receive family allowance, two main criteria must be met:

  • Their primary residence is in Austria.
  • The child lives in the same household, or the parents are legally obligated to provide financial support.

Family allowance is primarily intended for children. However, if you’re still in education, you’ll continue to receive it – as a school student, apprentice, or university student – up until age 24. In certain cases, such as longer periods of study, it can be extended until your 25th birthday.

There are, however, some restrictions: There is no entitlement for family allowance during mandatory military or civilian service plus an income limit that you must not exceed in order to remain eligible – you’ll learn more about this in the next section.

If you no longer live with your parents or are a full orphan,  you can, under certain conditions, apply for family allowance yourself. It’s best to find out early so you can make the most of the financial support available to you!

How long can you receive Family Allowance as a student? Age limits & eligibility duration

As a student, you’re generally entitled to receive family allowance until your 24th birthday. However, there are exceptions where the eligibility can be extended up to your 25th birthday. This applies, for example, if you:

  • completed military or civilian service,
  • were pregnant,
  • have a significant disability (over 50%),
  • are enrolled in a program with a minimum duration of ten semesters,
  • performed voluntary humanitarian service, or
  • had your studies extended due to unforeseeable events (like illness) or study abroad.

It’s important to keep track of your study duration, as family allowance is only granted for the standard period of study plus the extra tolerance semesters. This means: if you complete your studies within the prescribed timeframe, you retain your entitlement.

If you don’t use your tolerance semesters during one stage of study, you can use them as credit for future study phases. However, if you exceed the timeframe of the legal minimum study duration or cannot show sufficient academic progress, you will lose the right to family allowance.

Family Allowance for University & ECTS: How to stay eligible

As soon as you turn 18, your parents must send either a school attendance certificate (if you’re still in school) or, if you’re already studying at university, your student record and confirmation of enrollment to the relevant tax office.

In the first year of study, you also need to provide proof of earning at least:

  • 16 ECTS credits, or
  • 14 ECTS within the STEOP (introductory and orientation phase).

This proof is essential to retain family allowance after the first year. Usually, payments continue until the end of your studies (including tolerance semesters), as long as you are actively studying. However, the tax office may occasionally request evidence of academic progress to check how your studies are going.

STUWO Tip: Even if you’re unsure about passing an exam, it’s better to take it anyway than having nothing to show – because even failed exams count as academic progress.

How much is the Family Allowance for students? All the figures at a glance

How much family allowance you receive depends on your age and how many siblings you have. There is also an increased family allowance available for children with disabilities. From the age of 19, the family allowance, without siblings or disability, amounts to €200.40 per month. If you have siblings, the amount increases depending on how many there are.

In addition to the family allowance, a child tax credit (Kinderabsetzbetrag) of €70.90 per child is also paid out automatically. You don’t need to submit a separate application for this, it’s automatically included.

But the Arbeiterkammer offers a family allowance calculator that can tell you exactly how much you’re entitled to. It’s the easiest way to get a clear breakdown of the amount each child receives, and it also includes the child tax credit.

AgeMonthly amountMonthly child tax credit
From 10171, 80 €70,90 €
From 19200,40 €70,90 €
If you meet the requirements for child benefit, you should definitely take advantage of it! ©Adobe Stock
If you meet the requirements for child benefit, you should definitely take advantage of it! ©Adobe Stock

Family Allowance & Income Limit: How much can you earn as a student?

You’re hardworking and have a job alongside your studies? That’s great! But in that case, you should keep an eye on the income limit. This limit defines how much you’re allowed to earn while still receiving family allowance.

If you earn more than €17,212 per year, you’ll have to repay the amount by which you exceeded the limit. Holiday and Christmas bonuses, as well as social security contributions, are not included – only your gross annual income matters.

If you don’t receive family allowance for the full year, the income limit is calculated on a monthly basis. This means: for each month you receive family allowance, you can earn about €1,434.33.
For example, if you receive family allowance for only 6 months in a year, your personal limit would be: 6 × €1,434.33 = €8,605.98 gross.

Changing your course & Family Allowance: Avoid these pitfalls

One degree isn’t enough for you and you’ve enrolled in two programs at once? In this case, you need to inform the tax office about which one is your main field of study, because only this one will count toward your semester limits and academic progress.

It wasn’t love at first sight and you’ve decided to change your program? No worries! Just keep in mind that you can only switch your field of study twice, after that, you’ll lose your entitlement to family allowance.

The timing of your switch is also important:

  • You should change your study program no later than before the start of the third semester.
  • If you switch later than that, family allowance will be suspended for as many semesters as you were enrolled in the previous program.

This waiting period can be shortened if credits from your old program are recognized in your new one.

What doesn’t count as a study change?

Not every switch negatively affects your eligibility for allowance. The following do not count as official program changes:

  • If all credits from your previous studies are fully transferable.
  • If you have to switch due to circumstances beyond your control, such as a permanent injury in a sports program.
  • Switching to a new curriculum within the same field of study.
  • Changing your place of study, as long as you keep the same field.

Family Allowance for University: When do you have to repay?

You must repay family allowance if you’re no longer eligible while receiving it. This can happen if:

  • you exceed the age limit,
  • your university enrollment is terminated,
  • you show insufficient academic activity (e.g., you don’t take any exams), or
  • you exceed the income limit (see the section on income limits above for more details).

Important: Even if you didn’t intentionally break the rules, that doesn’t exempt you from repaying the money. The so-called “good faith receipt” (meaning you believed you were entitled) doesn’t protect you from consequences. If it’s determined that you received family allowance intentionally or through gross negligence, things can get even more serious:

  • You may face a fine of up to €360, or
  • in the worst case, even a prison sentence of up to two weeks.

Conclusion: How to secure your Family Allowance without stress!

As long as you keep a few key things in mind, family allowance can really ease your student life. The most important points: make sure you earn enough ECTS, don’t switch your studies too often, and watch your income limit.

You don’t need to memorise everything, but it definitely pays off to know the most important rules – and when in doubt, it’s always better to check with the tax office one more time. That way, you can secure your allowance without any stress and focus fully on your studies!

Looking for more tips on financing your education? Check out our blog, where you’ll find all available funding options and the best money-saving tips at a glance!

Questions?

We are happy to help!

Direkt buchen

Budget Cooking: 5 Student Recipes That are Budget-Friendly