As with the housing allowance, only people who can prove language level A2 should benefit from the state benefits. This is a “continuation of the consistent path to learning the German language in Upper Austria”, as the state party announced in a press release on Sunday.
The O family card is currently also being issued to foreign citizens living in Upper Austria without having to test their language level. The European Court of Justice and the Regional Court have already confirmed that the combination of knowledge of German for receiving housing allowance is in conformity with EU law, said OVP regional manager Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer. “That is why we want to extend the German requirement to other state services,” as Hattmansdorfer is quoted in a report in the “Kronen Zeitung” on Sunday. In addition to the Upper Austrian family card at A2 level, there will be “a consistent focus on German with guidelines and incentives”, announced Hattmansdorfer.
According to the broadcast, 150,000 family cards are in circulation in Upper Austria. It offers entertainment at 1,700 partner companies and public institutions nationwide. In the leisure, retail, service and catering sectors, the price reductions are usually minus five to minus 50 percent. The Westbahn and the OVV grant price reductions of 45 to 50 percent within Upper Austria. There is also amusement at petrol stations and free accident insurance for parents and primary school children, including parental education vouchers.
