If you are working but at the same time have to look after a person in need of care, you are entitled to care leave allowance. 

How long are you entitled to care leave allowance?

If you work in a company with more than five employees, you are legally entitled to two to a maximum of four weeks of care leave or part-time care leave. You can agree an extension during this period. These four weeks count toward the maximum statutory entitlement of three months of care leave or part-time care leave. During the first four weeks, you are protected from dismissal. If you wish to take than 4 weeks of care leave or part-time care leave, this must be mutually agreed with your employer.

How long are you entitled to family hospice leave?

If you are caring for a dying close relative, you can apply for family hospice leave or part-time family hospice leave for up to six months. If you are supporting a very seriously ill child, the period can be extended – up to a maximum of nine months.

Under what conditions do you receive care leave allowance? 

You receive care leave allowance in the following two situations:

• If you take care leave or family hospice leave and are therefore no longer able to work: You are not receiving a salary during this time.
• If you go on part-time care leave or part-time family hospice leave and therefore work fewer hours. Your salary will be reduced accordingly. 

As a close relative, you have the right to a care leave allowance in the event of

• The person in need of care must be entitled to care allowance level 3 or above, or
• be entitled to care allowance level 1 or above if they suffer from dementia or are a minor,
• You must have had an employment relationship for at least three months before starting part-time care leave or part-time family hospice leave – this is important as it ensures full insurance coverage,
• You must declare that you will use the care leave or part-time care leave mainly to care for the person in need of care. (This declaration is not required for family hospice leave or part-time family hospice leave.)

In addition, you need

• a written agreement with your employer that you are taking care leave or part-time care leave, or
• proof that you have the right to care leave or part-time care leave,
• proof that you have the right to family hospice leave or part-time family hospice leave or
• a deregistration from unemployment allowance or emergency assistance at the AMS.

To the applications

You can apply for care leave benefit online or by submitting a paper application by post. The application must be submitted to the Styrian regional office, which handles all cases from across Austria. The following links will take you to the applications. A checklist for applying for a care leave allowance serves as an aid for completing the application;