Inequalities in the take-up of the long-term care allowance in Austria

ÖNB Anniversary Fund

The research project deals with the non-take-up of the long-term care allowance, a central pillar of the Austrian care system. The long-term care allowance is designed as a universal benefit. However, the extent of non-take-up in this domain remains unclear. A previously completed research project by the project team, on which this project is based, shows that the receipt of the long-term care allowance varies across regions and that non-take-up varies systematically among population groups (e.g., by income, migration background, and household composition). Using a mixed-methods design, the project aims to quantitatively assess the extent and nature of non-take-up of the long-term care allowance and to qualitatively analyze primary and secondary non-take-up in depth. The focus is on primary non-take-up, where we examine the barriers in the application process, and secondary non-take-up, where we investigate the process of eligibility assessment and benefit granting.