Social Security (2024)

The SVS (Social Insurance Institution for the Self-Employed/Sozialversicherung der Selbständigen), is the responsible agency (before 2020 it was the SVA – Sozialversicherungsanstalt der gewerblichen Wirtschaft).

The income threshold amount for compulsory insurance with the SVS in 2024 is EUR 6,221.28 per year (income from self-employment). The same amount is considered the lower limit that must be reached to qualify for the KSVF – however, it is defined differently there: for revenue (!) from artistic (!) activities – but, as before, various special and exemption rules exist.

! Tip for insured persons with a small income: apply to be exempt from cost contributions for medical examinations and prescription charges!

If your annual income from self-employment (whether artistic or not) is above the insurance threshold, you are subject to compulsory insurance with the SVS. Please note: This applies whether or not you already have another kind of social insurance coverage. This means that multiple insurances are possible (e.g. if there is parallel employment).

2024 insurance threshold: EUR 6,221.28 

The insurance threshold is also the minimum assessment basis.

Compulsory insurance includes health insurance, accident insurance, pension insurance, and a supplementary pension provision for the self-employed.

This is the calculation: Assessment basis x contribution rate = contribution

The assessment basis results from the income subject to social insurance contributions according to the income tax assessment notice. During the current year, the SVS charges you provisional contributions. Later, once the income tax assessment notice becomes final, the SVS makes a re-assessment.

2024 contribution rates

•  Health insurance: 6.80%
•  Pension insurance: 18.5%
•  Supplementary pension provision for the self-employed (“Selbstständigenvorsorge”): 1.53%
•  Accident insurance: EUR 11.35 per month

Cost example for 2024: Minimum contributions

With a minimum assessment basis of EUR 6,221.28 (equivalent to EUR 500,91 per month), the minimum contributions are as follows:

• Health insurance: EUR 35.25 per month (= EUR 105.75 quarterly)
• Pension insurance: EUR 95.91 per month (= EUR 287,73 quarterly)
• Supplementary pension provision for the self-employed: EUR 7.93 per month (= EUR 23.79 quarterly)
•  Accident insurance: EUR 11.35 per month (= EUR 34,05 quarterly)

=> total of EUR 150.44 per month (= EUR 451.32 quarterly)

With a subsidy from the KSVF, the remaining expenses for social insurance are noticeably lower.

Is it possible to pay less than the minimum contribution?


If you have multiple insurance coverage due to simultaneous self-employment and other gainful employment, the minimum assessment basis of the Social Insurance Institution for the Self-Employed is disregarded. In this case, lower contributions are possible.

Is there a maximum contribution?


The maximum monthly assessment basis for self-employed persons is EUR 7,070.00 (2024 value). Accordingly, the maximum monthly compulsory insurance contribution amounts to EUR 1,908.23.

The registration for social security is done by submitting an “insurance declaration“ (online form, German only). The form also contains an extensive list of questions about your self-employment. These questions are intended to clarify whether you are actually self-employed (and not in “fake” self-employment).

The registration form asks whether or not your income is likely to be above the insurance threshold.

• If yes, this “declaration of exceeding the insurance limit” immediately leads to full insurance coverage (pension and health insurance, accident insurance, self-employment provision). This insurance protection does not subsequently cease if the insurance limit is ultimately not exceeded.
• If not, voluntary health and accident insurance is possible (so-called “opting in”). The next question on the same form is: Would you still like to apply for health and accident insurance (so-called “opting in”) with the SVS? The decision can be made at this point on the same form. (See: Voluntary self-insurance: “Opting in”)

If your income is likely to be below the insurance threshold, you have the option to take out voluntary health and accident insurance – called “opting in.” The insurance begins the day the application reaches the SVS. However, pension insurance is not possible in this case, therefore you will not be entitled to an allowance from the KSVF either. If your income is above the insurance threshold after all, the SVS will invoice the pension insurance contributions retroactively. An allowance from the KSVF can then also be applied for later (up to four calendar years retroactively).

The assessment basis for health insurance contributions is the minimum assessment basis:

•  Health insurance: EUR 35.25 per month (= EUR 105,75 quarterly)
•  Accident insurance: EUR 11.35 per month (= EUR 34.05 quarterly)


⇒ total of EUR 46.60 per month (= EUR 139.80 quarterly)

Terminating the “Opting in” insurance is possible at any time. The registration becomes effective at the end of the month. This ends the insurance coverage!

If the premiums are still unpaid three months after their due date, the “Opting in” insurance ends at the end of the third calendar month. The payment claim remains valid.

Attention: Benefits that were drawn after the insurance was terminated will be reclaimed.

If the insurance limit is ultimately exceeded if you chose “opting in,” the pension insurance contributions for the calendar year will be (retroactively) prescribed. This means that there is a switch to compulsory insurance. In this case, there is no contribution surcharge.

If the insurance limit is not expected to be exceeded in a calendar year, you can cancel your compulsory insurance with the SVS at any time by revoking the income threshold declaration (form; informal declaration is also possible). The revocation will take effect at the end of the month. This will end your insurance coverage — after the expiry of a 6-week period subsequent insurance coverage!

A retroactive cancellation of the insurance is not possible.

If the income forecast changes, a return to compulsory insurance — for the entire calendar year — is possible at any time.

Important: Revoking the income threshold declaration is not to be confused with the declaration of suspension (“Ruhendmeldung”)! In the case of the declaration of suspension, the self-employed activity must be completely discontinued in the corresponding period, e.g. while receiving unemployment benefits, family time bonus! (See: What is the Suspension Notification? What is it (not) for?)

By the way, to reactivate the insurance after a declaration of suspension, an income threshold declaration is necessary. The compulsory insurance then starts again on the day the SVS receives the declaration.

Important: Artists, especially those receiving the KSVF subsidy, should carefully consider the implications of deregistering / switching to “opting in.” If you have questions or are unclear, a social security consultation (link) can help.

See also: “What happens if I have registered for compulsory insurance with the SVS but do not exceed the insurance limit?“

If you stop working as a self-employed person, your compulsory insurance ends with the last day of the calendar month in which you stopped working as a self-employed person.
Important: This must be reported to the SVS in the same month (form)! Otherwise, the insurance can only be terminated at the end of the month in which the SVS was notified of the cessation of the activity.

Attention: If you stop working as a self-employed person, you will not be covered by any subsequent insurance!

The artistic activity can be temporarily suspended by submitting an application to the Artists’ Social Insurance Fund (KSVF). This results in a temporary suspension of compulsory insurance (for the artistic activity) with the SVS. This is particularly necessary in order to be considered “unemployed” by the AMS or to be able to receive the family time bonus (see below).

However, if the reason for a suspension notification is an attempt to save on social security contributions, the calculation hardly pays off, especially not for artists who receive a subsidy from the KSVF. If you have any questions, we recommend coming in a consultation!

The KSVF takes notifications of suspension from artists and forwards them to the SVS. A notification of suspension only becomes effective at the end of the calendar month, but can be terminated at any time. It is not possible to register a suspension retroactively!

Important: In the case of a suspension notification, the activity must actually be discontinued during the relevant period (i.e. no work on projects, no income—not even below the minimum earnings threshold!) A KSVF subsidy is only possible for those months in which SVS compulsory insurance as an artist exists.

Suspension notification in order to be considered “unemployed”

The absence of compulsory pension insurance is a prerequisite for receiving unemployment benefits (Arbeitslosengeld or Notstandshilfe). In principle, compulsory insurance in the SVS is based on your annual income (see: Insurance threshold: Who has to take out compulsory insurance?) With the suspension notification (temporary suspension of activity during a period), artists can exclude a certain period of time from the SVS compulsory insurance as an artist and receive benefits from unemployment insurance during this time (provided they are entitled to it; the AMS is responsible here).

Example: The self-employed artistic activity is temporarily suspended beginning on May 29, 2024. The suspension is reported to the KSVF on June 15, 2024, it takes effect on June 30, 2024, the exemption from GSVG insurance begins on July 1, 2024.

Suspension notification in order to be able to receive the family time bonus

In order to receive the family time bonus, the second parent must interrupt their employment for a period of 28 to 31 days. The KSVF takes suspension notifications from artists and forwards them to the SVS (see above). The SVS takes into account the interruption of activity on the date applied for the family time bonus, but the exemption from compulsory insurance only takes effect at the end of the calendar month. (See also: What benefits are available for (expectant) parents?)

Example: Birth of the child on September 4, 2023, interruption of artistic activity from September 6 2023, notification of suspension to the KSVF on September 8, 2023: The family time bonus can be received from September 8, 2023 to October 7, 2023. The suspension (of compulsory insurance) takes effect on September 30, 2023, the exemption from GSVG insurance begins on October 1, 2023 and ends on October 7, 2023.

Important: The SVS requires artists who receive or have ever received a subsidy from the Artists’ Social Insurance Fund (KSVF) to notify the KSVF of the suspension. All other artists can report the interruption of their activity directly to the SVS (interruption report).

Don’t worry, nothing happens! The insurance coverage remains valid even if the insurance limit is not reached, as long as there is no revocation (see above).

Important: Falling below the insurance limit is not a reason for a notification of suspension! In the case of a notification of suspension, the activity must be — temporarily — completely suspended (no implementation of projects, no income, no expenses), for example while receiving unemployment benefits. (See: What is the Suspension Notification? What is it (not) for?)

If the insurance limit is not reached, deregistering from compulsory insurance is possible at any time by revoking the declaration of excess (see above). However, it should be considered, especially if you receive the KSVF subsidy.

It is advisable to seek social insurance advice.

In this case, the SVS will retrospectively establish compulsory insurance “ex officio,” and the corresponding contributions will subsequently be prescribed.

What are the consequences? If you do not notify the SVS that your income has exceeded the insurance threshold on your own initiative within eight weeks of your income tax assessment notice being issued, you will have to pay a surcharge of 9.3%, in addition to the insurance contributions incurred.

! Tip: Avoid contribution surcharge

It is advisable to register for compulsory insurance as soon as it is clear that the insurance limit will be exceeded — at the latest before the income tax assessment becomes legally binding. This is an easy way to avoid a contribution surcharge.

If the insurance limit is ultimately exceeded when “opting in,” the pension insurance contributions for the calendar year will be prescribed (retrospectively). This means that you switch to compulsory insurance. In this case, there is no premium surcharge. (See: Termination of the “opting in” insurance)

Payment requests are sent out quarterly, with the reassessment and adjustment of final contributions being made at a later date. The SVS sends out “prescribed contribution statements” (“Beitragsvorschreibung”) on a quarterly basis: These requests for payment are sent out in February, May, August and November, and the contributions are due at the end of the respective month. Upon request, a monthly debit of the partial installments is possible; this requires a direct debit authorisation order.

Any deductibles will be prescribed or debited with the insurance premiums. Exemption from the cost share and prescription fees is possible in the case of low income, certain serious illnesses, and other exceptions.

Provisional social insurance contributions


During the current year, the SVS charges provisional insurance contributions. In the first three years of self-employment, the minimum contributions are charged (see above: cost example). From the fourth year onward, the provisional assessment basis (“vorläufige Beitragsgrundlage”) is adjusted to reflect the individual income situation: It is calculated on the basis of your income in the third preceding year, plus the pension and health insurance contributions prescribed at that time.

! Tip: flexible adjustment of provisional assessment basis


If the provisional contributions appear noticeably too high or too low in view of your current or expected income, you may apply to have the provisional assessment basis adjusted (form to be completed). By increasing your provisional assessment basis, you can avoid high back payments later on. The assessment basis may not be reduced below the minimum assessment basis (exception: multiple insurance coverage).

Final social insurance contributions
 and Additional Reviews

The final insurance contributions cannot be calculated before the relevant income tax assessment notice (“Einkommensteuerbescheid”) has become available. Please note: This means that the SVS then calculates the final contributions to health and pension insurance – and there may be claims for back payments! A credit is also possible if the provisional social security contributions were overestimated. There is no re-assessment for the portion known as supplementary pension provision for self-employed persons. Accident insurance is a monthly fixed amount and therefore also remains unchanged.


The final assessment basis is hence established retrospectively. It results from the income actually earned (basically “income minus expenses”, specifically “sum total of all income” according to the income tax assessment notice) plus any compulsory insurance contributions from self-employment prescribed in the relevant contribution year.

If the provisional contributions appear noticeably too high or too low in view of your current or expected income, you may apply to have the provisional assessment basis adjusted (form to be completed). By increasing your provisional assessment basis, you can avoid high back payments later on. The assessment basis may not be reduced below the minimum assessment basis (exception: multiple insurance coverage).

If you are in a financially tight situation and cannot pay your (total) contributions to the SVS on time, you are strongly advised to contact the SVS. If necessary, the SVS can offer a deferral (i.e. a payment extension) or payment by installments. In the absence of such an agreement, the SVS charges default interest at a current rate of 7.88%.

The SVS requires newly self-employed persons to pay 20% of the costs of medical treatment retrospectively or deducts these costs from their pension. The deductible isn’t paid at the doctor’s appointment, but will be settled by the SVS via invoice.

There is also a deductible of 20% for remedies and aids if the costs exceed EUR 40.40. Insured persons must bear all costs up to this amount themselves.

In the case of certain serious illnesses and some other exceptions, insured persons can apply to be exempted from the deductible. SVS health insurance holders with low income can also apply to be exempted from cost sharing (deductible for visits to the doctor) and from the prescription fee. (See: How and for whom is an exemption from deductibles and prescription fees possible?)

Insured persons with health impairments can be exempted from paying deductibles, if they amount to more than 5% of the yearly income.

The deductible of 20% does not apply to hospital stays!

The prescription fee (2024) for medication is EUR 7.10 per pack.

Selbständig Gesund – half the deductible

By participating in the program “Selbständig gesund,” insured persons can reduce the deductible from 20% to 10%. They agree on health goals with their doctor that are aimed at maintaining or improving certain values, e.g. staying healthy, taking more exercise, quitting smoking, or adopting a lifestyle that lowers blood pressure.

At the end of the agreed period (at least six months), there is an evaluation meeting to check whether the health goals were achieved. By participating in the program and achieving the health goals, the deductible is reduced by half, following an application.

Those with a low income who have health insurance with the SVS can apply (German only) to be exempt from paying cost contributions for medical examinations and from prescription charges. The monthly income limits are set as follows: EUR 1,217.96 max. for singles, or EUR 1,921.46 max. (2024 values) as household income for couples. These income limits are increased by EUR 187,93 (2024 values) for each child (for whom alimony is obligatory and provided their net monthly income is below EUR 447.97). For certain illnesses which experience has shown to incur special expenses (e.g. increased need for medication), 15% higher income limits apply. Since self-employed persons cannot provide final information on their current income while the calendar year is still underway, the SVS assesses the income situation based on the information on current income provided and taking into account the most recent income tax assessment notices available. The annual amount relevant for the assessment is divided by 14. An exemption is granted for a maximum of one year, after which a new application is required. The application (German only) is to be made to the competent regional SVS office.

In the case of certain serious illnesses and other exceptions, insured people can apply to be exempted from paying deductibles.

In a detailed brochure, the SVS compiled general information on health insurance, benefits in detail, coverage for temporary stays abroad or residence abroad, co-insurance of dependants and continued insurance, as well as service information: Health insurance at a glance. Sickness and maternity benefits (Brochure 2024, German).

Weekly allowance (“Wochengeld”)

Persons insured with the SVS who give birth to a child are entitled to a weekly allowance or company assistance. (Company assistance is a person who takes over professional activities during the period of parental leave; thus, it is not a significant option for artists). The weekly allowance is available from eight weeks before the calculated date of birth, for the day of delivery and eight weeks thereafter. In the case of multiple, premature or cesarean births, the entitlement is extended to twelve weeks after the birth. The daily weekly allowance is 67.19 euros (value 2024).

There is no weekly allowance for adopted or foster children.

Childcare benefits (“Kinderbetreuungsgeld”)

In regards to childcare benefits, there is a choice between several flat-rate variants and an income-based model. Parents can take turns, alternating a maximum of two times. They must decide on a model together. This means that a total of three care blocks are possible, but each block must be at least 61 days long. It is important to note the additional income limits! For the flat-rate options, the additional earnings limit is EUR 18,000 per year (or more if the previous year’s income was correspondingly high). In the case of income-related childcare benefits, a maximum of EUR 8,100 per year (for reference periods up to 2023: EUR 7,800) may be earned additionally (value 2024).

The amount of the daily childcare allowance for the flat-rate variants (value 2024: EUR 39.33 to EUR 16.87) depends on the duration of entitlement, which can be flexibly selected within a specified framework beginning with the birth of the child.

The income-related childcare allowance amounts to 80% of your last income, with a maximum of EUR 76.60 (value 2024) per day. Details can be found here (German).

If you do not receive childcare allowance for the entire year, but your annual self-employment income exceeds the additional earnings limit, you must submit an “accrual” of income (by months during and outside the period in which you receive childcare benefits) in good time and without being asked to do so. In this case, we strongly advis seeking advice from the SVS.

Note for births in 2021: Due to the Covid-19 crisis, the income-based childcare benefits are exceptionally based on the tax assessment for 2019 instead of 2020 for births from January 1st to December 31st, 2021, if this results in a higher daily rate.

Compensation for childcare benefit repayment claims

In recent years, self-employed persons repeatedly had to repay childcare benefits they had received, even though they had not exceeded the applicable additional earnings limit. They had only failed to provide the social security agency with a monthly accrual of their income within the applicable time limit. A new legal provision of 2019 extends the time limit for births between 1 January 2012 and 28 February 2017 until 31 December 2025.

Important: If it has already been established that the limit was exceeded and the parents have been informed that a delineation of income proof can be submitted, this must be done within two months. For final repayment claims relating to births between 1 January 2012 and 28 February 2017, which resulted solely from missing the deadline for income accrual, the individuals concerned may apply to the Young Families Fund (form to be completed) for compensation.

Partnership bonus

If the parents received the flat-rate or income-related childcare allowance in approximately equal parts (50:50 to 60:40) and for at least 124 days each, the parents can apply to each receive a partnership bonus of EUR 500 as a one-off payment at the end of the total period of entitlement.

Family time bonus (“Familienzeitbonus”)

If both parents devote themselves exclusively to the family after the birth (within a time frame of 91 days), and if the second parent also interrupts their employment for a period of 28 to 31 days, the second parent can apply for the “family time bonus” as financial support. In principle, an adopted or foster child is also entitled to the family time bonus, but the 91-day period also starts from birth.

The family time bonus amounts to 52.46 euros per day (value 2024), and recipients are covered by health and pension insurance during this time.

The application for the family time bonus (form) and the interruption notification (“Unterbrechungserklärung”) (informal) are not possible retroactively! Artists who receive or have ever received a subsidy from the Artists’ Social Insurance Fund (KSVF) are required by the SVS to submit a notification of suspension to the KSVF. All other artists can report the interruption of their work directly to the SVS.

Important: The KSVF accepts notifications of suspension and sends them to the SVS. The SVS will take the interruption of activity into account on the date requested for the family time bonus, but the exemption from compulsory insurance will not take effect until the end of the calendar month. Retroactive declaration of suspension is not possible. (See also: Information material KSVF: Suspension of compulsory insurance).

Example: birth of child on 2 September, 2024, interruption of artistic activity from 4 September, 2024, notification of suspension to KSVF on 6 September, 2024: The family time bonus can be received from 6 September, 2024 to 5 October, 2024. The suspension (of compulsory insurance) takes effect on 30 September, 2024, the exception from GSVG insurance starts on 1 October, 2024 and ends on 5 October, 2024.

If the exception from compulsory insurance covers exactly one entire calendar month (e.g. 1. to 31.10.), this month is non-contributory. If the exception from compulsory insurance does not cover an entire calendar month, this has no effect on contributions.

Worth noting: The family time bonus is often referred to as “dad month,” and application forms also refer to “father.” Basically, it is about the second parent (in the sense of the regulations in the General Civil Code, with a corresponding reference in the Family Time Bonus Act). In cases of doubt, the parent who submitted the application first has the priority right to the family time bonus; otherwise, the parent who does not predominantly care for the child during the entitlement period.

Other benefits for (expectant) parents

Child allowance (“Kinderzuschuss”), family allowance (“Familienbeihilfe”), increased family allowance (“Erhöhte Familienbeihilfe”), child deduction (“Kinderabsetzbetrag”), sole earner deduction (“Alleinverdiener_innenabsetzbetrag”) are further examples – here only as a suggestion for further research. New additions as of 2019 are the family bonus (“Familienbonus” and the additional child allowance (“Kindermehrbetrag”) – potentially, because low-income parents will see nothing of them.

For so-called sole self-employed persons and self-employed persons with less than 25 employees, financial support is available in case of long-term sickness – but only from the 43rd day of sickness onwards. Starting from 1 July 2018, the following applies: For periods of sickness lasting longer than six weeks, support is paid retroactively from the 4th day of your incapacity for work. Please note: A doctor’s sick note is required! Following the sixth week of your incapacity for work, the SVS pays a daily cash benefit of EUR 37.28 (2024 value). The entitlement is valid for the duration of the incapacity for work, but is restricted to a maximum of 20 weeks for one and the same sickness.

Generally, if you want to receive sick pay from the fourth day of sickness onwards, you must take out supplemental insurance – before the age of 60. For this supplemental insurance, costs of 2.5% of the assessment basis for health insurance are incurred, and in any case not less than EUR 30.77 per month. Sick pay is then paid – after a waiting period of at least six months after taking out the supplementary insurance – in the amount of 60% of the daily assessment basis, and at least EUR 10.37 per day (2024 value). Please note: A doctor’s sick note is required! The SVS must be notified of your incapacity for work within seven days, after which a current medical certificate is required every 14 days. The entitlement is valid for the duration of the incapacity for work, but is restricted to a maximum of 26 continuous weeks for one and the same sickness.

Anyone registering for compulsory insurance for the first time must decide for or against unemployment insurance within six months. Please note: This decision is binding for eight years. You can choose between three contribution levels. This decision too is binding for eight years! The contribution, depending on the option chosen, is either 3% of one quarter of the maximum assessment basis, or 6% of half or three quarters of the maximum assessment basis.
How much does it cost in concrete terms? The monthly unemployment insurance contributions, depending on the option chosen, amount to either EUR 52.14, EUR 208.57 or EUR 312.85 (2024 values).
The daily unemployment benefit is hence EUR 28.43 or EUR 46.35 or EUR 64.11 (2024 values) if the entitlement is calculated exclusively according to the assessment basis in the voluntary unemployment insurance.

On the pros and cons of voluntary unemployment insurance and the challenges related to the possibility of claiming an entitlement in the first place (How do artists meet the legal definition of unemployment?), we recommend the following brochure published by Kulturrat Österreich „Unselbständig – Selbständig – Erwerbslos“ and the accompanying info sheets (German only). In any case we recommend a personal consultation on the matter. Generally, the following must be observed: To be considered unemployed, you must have no current compulsory insurance coverage. A suspension of the compulsory insurance with the SVS is possible for commercial and artistic activities. For all other self-employed activities, there is no possibility of suspension. You can notify the Artists’ Social Insurance Fund (KSVF) of a suspension of your artistic activity, albeit not retroactively.

How about saving 100 euro on your next yoga or climbing course? The SVS supports its clients in health-promoting activities in the areas of exercise, nutrition, stress/burnout, relaxation/bodywork and giving up smoking. The “Health Hundred” is available once per calendar year, upon application, if at least EUR 150 were spent on such activities – either with official partners of the SVS or as part of individual programs. The prerequisite is a medical checkup. The application (form) (German only) must be submitted to the competent regional office.

First aid, stress management, driving safety: if you have accident insurance with the SVS, you can receive up to 100 euro for selected courses (with SVS cooperation partners) to promote occupational safety (form).

The SVS has a support fund for insured persons in situations that require special consideration, such as special expenses or illness. Circumstances surrounding family, income, and finances are taken into account when applying.

The fund is organized by the regional SVS offices, which are able to answer questions about it and accept applications.

Compulsory insurance exists in Austria: Depending on the type of employment (self-employed/employed) or industry, the corresponding statutory social insurance applies. Anyone who exceeds the marginal earnings threshold here or there is subject to compulsory insurance for the activity in question. If the marginal earnings threshold is exceeded in several types of employment (e.g. employment and self-employment as an artist), this will result in multiple insurances. In simple terms, this does not mean that multiple contributions have to be paid, but rather that the contributions are basically split: Social insurance contributions must be paid to different social insurance schemes for different incomes, up to a maximum amount. Beyond this, no contributions are due and may be reimbursed.

Conversely, the following applies: Income up to the marginal earnings threshold is possible in each statutory social insurance scheme without the need for compulsory insurance (obligation to pay contributions).

Note: In the case of multiple insurances, the contributions to the SVS may fall below the minimum contribution basis: If the minimum contribution basis (insurance limit) was not reached in the course of the self-employed activity after all, the SVS contributions are exceptionally lower than the minimum contribution.

By the way: In the case of multiple insurances, the more advantageous health insurance can be selected for doctor’s appointments or other medical services.

Reading tip: Health insurance at a glance. Sickness and maternity benefits (SVS brochure 2024, German)

For self-employed artists, both compulsory insurance with the SVS and voluntary self-insurance (“opting in”) with the SVS are suitable health insurances for the “Settlement Permit – Artist.”

For initial applications from abroad, travel health insurance is sufficient (until completion, i.e. collection of the residence permit); the risk cover required for this is EUR 30,000. In the case of renewal applications as well as in case of an appeal in regards to initial applications: health insurance with full coverage in Austria is absolutely necessary.

More information: Info material on residence and employment

• What documents and papers do I need for a “Settlement Permit – Artist” [Niederlassungsbewilligung – Künstler:in]?
• What documents and papers are required for an application for extension?

For 2023, there will once again be an energy cost subsidy for newly self-employed persons: EUR 410 as a one-off payment, processed by the SVS. No application is necessary for the energy cost subsidy, it will automatically be taken into account. However, the key date is June 1, 2024. On this date, the eligibility requirements must be met, namely continuous health insurance from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023 as a newly self-employed person in the SVS compulsory insurance (i.e. including pension insurance) OR in the voluntary variant (the so-called “opting in”) OR as a self-employed visual artist with the ÖGK (in the old insurance system).

Newly self-employed persons who were continuously insured with the SVS in 2023 will receive the energy cost subsidy as a contribution credit as part of the contribution forecast for the third quarter of 2024. Another prerequisite is that the final or provisional monthly contribution base for the month of December 2023 does not exceed the maximum contribution base (EUR 6,615).

Visual artists who continued to be insured with ÖGK under the old insurance system in 2023 will receive the energy cost subsidy from the SVS by September 30, 2024 at the latest. Here, too, the prerequisite is that the contribution base in December 2023 did not exceed the relevant maximum contribution base.

For current information see also: Kunst & Räume: Energiekostenzuschuss!