Useful tips for families living in Vorarlberg

Useful information for families living in Vorarlberg

Vorarlberg Family Pass (Vorarlberger Familienpass)

The Vorarlberg Family Pass is a card that families can apply free of charge – either at your local municipality or online. It is available to all families that have their main residence in Vorarlberg and at least one child under the age of 18.

What is the advantage? You can get discounts at more than 200 partner businesses in the areas of culture, sports, leisure time and parental education. You will also get discounts on public transportation. Furthermore, you will receive regular information about attractive leisure activities for families in Vorarlberg and the surrounding area. Holders of the Family Pass can also get the V-Card at a reduced price.

For more information check the website: https://vorarlberg.at/-/vorarlberger-familienpass.

V-CARD

With the V-CARD from Vorarlberg Tourism, you can visit 85 attractions and 14 bonus partners in Vorarlberg and Liechtenstein between May 1st and October 31st.

You can ride cable cars and chairlifts to the most beautiful hiking areas, visit museums, attractions, indoor and outdoor pools. You can visit each participating attraction and sight once for free. Bonus partners throughout the country offer multiple discounts with the card. Ideal for family outings.

Please note: Holders of the Vorarlberg family pass receive the V-Card at a 25% discount!

For more information check the website: https://www.v-card.at/

Vorarlberg Family Association (Vorarlberger Familienverband)

The Vorarlberg Family Association advocates for a forward-thinking and sustainable family policy. With over 6,000 member families, it is the largest representation of families in Vorarlberg. It serves as an important service and contact point, providing information on family policy issues and everyday family life. Through targeted projects, actions, counselling, and assistance, families in Vorarlberg are empowered, and valuable impulses and decisive orientation aids are provided.

Among the most important services are:

babysitting service “Frau Holle”
networking platform for single parents
targeted projects to strengthen fathers
organisation of leisure activities, holiday care, as well as family education seminars
support services for families in special life situations

Annual membership fee is 19€ per family providing access to the above-mentioned services, invitation to their events, discounts at certain stores and much more.

For more information check their website: https://familie.or.at/.

Financial support for families

4.1 Family allowance (Familienbehilfe)

Parents are granted family allowance (Familienbeihilfe) in Austria regardless of their employment or income. Parents are entitled to family allowance if:

their main place of residence is in Austria, and
their child lives with them in the same household or for whom they predominantly provide support, if there is no household membership for either parent.

The responsible authority to claim family allowance is the tax office (Finanzamt). If your child is born in Austria and the authority has all necessary data from both parents, you will automatically receive a letter informing you about how much family allowance you will receive. If your child is born in another country or authorities do not have all necessary documentation an application for family allowance is still necessary. The application for family allowance can be submitted electronically via FinanzOnline to the tax office responsible for the place of residence.

https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/en/themen/familie_und_partnerschaft/familienbeihilfe.html

4.2 Childcare allowance (Kinderbetreuungsgeld)

Childcare allowance is a parental benefit and granted for mothers and fathers, who are also entitled to family allowance for their child, share a common household and the same residence with the child, and have their centre of interests in Austria. Special rules apply to cross-border cases within the European Union. If you are not an Austrian citizen, you must be legally resident in Austria. To receive the full amount of Childcare Allowance, five examinations of the mother-to-be and the first 5 examinations of the child must have been carried out. You need to hand in a proof from your “Eltern-Kind-Pass”.

Parents have the choice between two schemes: flexible flat-rate Childcare allowance and income-related Childcare allowance. For more detailed information please contact your social insurance (ÖGK) or check this website:

https://www.bundeskanzleramt.gv.at/en/agenda/family/family-benefits/childcare-allowance.html#:~:text=Child%20care%20allowance%20(Kinderbetreuungsgeld).

4.3 Family allowance of Land Vorarlberg (Familienzuschuss des Landes Vorarlberg)

The family allowance is granted for each child immediately following the childcare allowance for a maximum period of 18 months if:

the child has its main residence in Vorarlberg and holds Austrian citizenship or is considered equivalent within the meaning of § 6 (1) and (2) of the Social Benefits Act,
the monthly family net income does not exceed a certain income,
for married couples and cohabiting partners, at least one income from part-time employment is present.

For more information visit: https://vorarlberg.at/-/familienzuschuss-fuer-vorarlberg.

4.4 Familienbonus Plus

The Family Bonus Plus is a tax credit that directly reduces your tax burden. You are entitled to it if you are subject to unlimited tax liability in Austria and receive family allowance for the child.

You can apply for the Family Bonus Plus:

Through your employer using Form E 30. Then you will get a tax reduction each month. Or
As part of the employee tax assessment (Arbeitnehmerveranlagung) in the following year.

Please note: If you submit your employee tax assessment (Arbeitnehmerveranlagung), you must request the Family Bonus Plus again, even if you have already applied for it with your employer. Otherwise, there may be an unintended repayment.

For more information visit:

https://www.bmf.gv.at/themen/steuern/arbeitnehmerinnenveranlagung/steuertarif-steuerabsetzbetraege/familienbonus-plus.html.

Sport clubs & libraries in Vorarlberg

5.1 Clubs in Vorarlberg

Clubs are essential for bringing people together, fostering social bonds, and promoting individual growth. They provide spaces where diverse individuals can connect, share interests, and build community spirit.

The wide selection of clubs and associations is something special in Vorarlberg. In club life, you are part of a community that shares a passion for a specific hobby.

Joining a club can be a great opportunity for expats to meet new people and to interact with locals. But because there are so many, it is difficult to know what clubs exit in Vorarlberg. Here is an overview of all sport clubs in Vorarlberg: https://sportlich-spitze.at/vereine

In addition to sports clubs, a lot of people living in Vorarlberg are members of clubs such as volunteer fire departments, alpine clubs, carnival clubs, boy scouts, social associations, fruit and gardening associations, youth and cultural clubs, the Red Cross, and many more.

5.2 Libraries in Vorarlberg

Vorarlberg has an excellent, well-functioning, and versatile library system. The 90 public libraries in Vorarlberg offer a wide and up-to-date range of books, non-fiction books, magazines, DVDs, CDs, audiobooks, games, e-media, and more.

In 70 out of the 96 municipalities in Vorarlberg, there are public libraries, mostly operated by cities and municipalities. Here is a list with an overview of all libraries: libraries in Vorarlberg.

Public libraries are meeting points and places of encounter, facilitating the exchange of information, thanks in part to a wide range of events. They offer readings, literary cafes, as well as tours and workshops for schools, kindergartens, and adults. Most libraries offer events several times a year, often in collaboration with schools, kindergartens, associations, or other institutions.

Other useful tips for families

6.1 Children Love Reading (Kinder lieben lesen)

The initiative “Children Love Reading” provides three bock packages for free to children in Vorarlberg aged six months to four years. The initiative aims to raise awareness among new parents that their child’s language development begins at birth and how valuable the shared time spent reading, storytelling, and looking at books together is. Successes of similar initiatives in other countries demonstrate that children develop better linguistic and social skills and also have advantages in school when they experience ample language stimulation and come into contact with books early on.

If your child is born in Vorarlberg you will be informed about “Children Love Reading” at the hospital and can directly sign up. There is also the option to register later via the online form: Registration for Children Love Reading.

Subsequently, you will receive three book packages containing age-appropriate children’s books as well as a parental guide with valuable tips and reading recommendations.

The first package is sent to families by mail when their child is six months old.
When the child is 18 months old, the second book package can be picked up at a public library in Vorarlberg.
At the age of four, every child in Vorarlberg receives the third book package at a childcare facility or directly from the “Children Love Reading” initiative.

6.2 Lecture Series “Valuable Children” by Vorarlberger Kinderdorf

At the invitation of the Vorarlberger Kinderdorf, renowned experts speak as part of the established series “Valuable Children”. Parents and all those interested in pedagogy will be offered suggestions, new knowledge, and topics for discussion related to family and education. All lectures are in German language.

You can also watch the videos or listen the audio files conveniently from home using this link: https://www.vorarlberger-kinderdorf.at/mediathek/wertvolle-kinder-vortraege/zum-nachhoeren. This may be a good option if you are still learning German and like to repeat certain passages to better understand the content.

6.3 Vorarlberg Family Impulses (Vorarlberger Kinderdorf Familienimpulse)

Parents are the most important caregivers for their children, but they cannot handle everything alone. Especially when support from the private environment is lacking, daily life can quickly become a challenge.

Therefore, the Vorarlberg Family Impulses from Vorarlberg Children’s Village (Vorarlberger Kinderdorf) aims to support young families who have little or no private support in their daily lives. Within the framework of “Family Impulses,” volunteers in Vorarlberg commit to a specified period and engage for two to three hours per week in activities such as walking or playing with children, reading to them, or gardening together.

The coordinators of “Family Impulses” match individual families with volunteers, provide professional support, and ensure smooth operations. This preventive offering from the Vorarlberg Children’s Village (Vorarlberger Kinderdorf) is supported by the state of Vorarlberg.

Requests for assistance (or to become a volunteer) can be directed to the Vorarlberg Children’s Village (Vorarlberger Kinderdorf):

www.vorarlberger-kinderdorf.at/familienimpulse

Family support (Familienhilfe)

Family support is a service aimed at aiding families with children.

There are times in life when everyday life doesn’t always go smoothly. Especially when the person primarily responsible for the children and the household suddenly falls ill or even has to go to the hospital. The birth of a child or when a pregnancy suddenly becomes high-risk, or the anticipation of multiple births, all these are events that can burden family life and disrupt its balance. In such difficult situations, family support staff come to your home to care for, support, and relieve you, ensuring the maintenance of familiar routines.

The staff of family support are trained professionals. They offer families relief and comprehensive care in their familiar environment. In emergencies, they take on various tasks, from caring for the children to organising daily household chores or caring for sick family members.

The contribution is calculated according to a socially tiered rate. According to the 2023 tariff sheet, the basic contribution ranges from €3.10 to €5.85 per hour.

For further information check the website: https://vorarlberg.at/-/familienhilfe

6.5 Family vacation in Vorarlberg

The family weeks (Familienwochen) are a cost-effective and soothing alternative when the vacation budget is limited. It also provides you the opportunity to enjoy your holidays in Vorarlberg, get to know more of our beautiful “Ländle” and connect with other families.

Target audience are families with many children as well as for parents with toddlers or single mothers and fathers. Participation in the family weeks requires the Vorarlberg Family Pass.

Family Weeks are offered in Lech-Stubenbach, JUFA Bregenz, JUFA Montafon, and JUFA Laterns.

For more information, please check this website: https://vorarlberg.at/-/familienwochen

Colourful Vacation Week for Young & Old (Bunte Ferienwoche für Klein & Groß)

This family vacation for a low price is organised by “Ehe und Familienzentrum” of the diocese Feldkirch. However, there is no religious content in the programme offered.

Accompanied by a skilled team families can spend a colourful vacation together with other families and enjoy a diverse programme for “young & old”. It includes shared activities for the whole family, as well as special offerings for children.

The holiday programme is open to all family constellations (single parents, parent couples with children, grandparents with their Grandchildren… etc.) and all cultural or religious backgrounds.

For more information check their website:

https://cms.kath-kirche-vorarlberg.at/efz/themen/alleinerziehende/ferienwoche-fuer-alleinerziehende-ein-rueckblick-auf-die-woche