Front runner in Austrian election proposes cuts to migrants benefits

The plan would cut payments to refugees to 560 euros a month per person, or around half of the poverty threshold according to a consensus of 40 social groups, while payments per household would be capped at 1,500 euros. 

Tens of thousands of people from the Middle East, Afghanistan and Africa have arrived in Austria in the past two years, raising public spending on social benefits and fuelling support for policy makers who advocate cutting migration. 

Kurz’s conservative People’s Party has led opinion polls since he took over as its chief in May at around 33 percent. The far right Freedom Party and Chancellor Christian Kern’s Social Democrats have 25 percent each. Immigration is a key concern for voters. 

“We must secure our welfare state and our systems in the long term. To achieve this, we must protect our social system from further immigration,” Kurz, 31, said in a statement. 

“Many receive basic social benefit payments without having paid into the social system yet. Those who work and pay taxes must not be disadvantaged,” he said, echoing policies of the Freedom Party.