Lower Austrians to Receive Compensation for Corona-related Damages in New Fund

The black-blue state government has announced that anyone who has suffered damage from Corona should receive compensation for it. From next Friday, September 1st, numerous Lower Austrians will have the opportunity to do so. After the corona penalties lifted by the Constitutional Court were repaid a few weeks ago, they can now apply for compensation for vaccination impairments, private tuition and missed leisure activities.

Applications can be submitted from September 1st at www.noe.gv.at/coronafonds possible – if one of the requirements is met and the person has their main residence in Lower Austria:

• Medically confirmed vaccination impairments: In the case of a medically confirmed impairment outside of the Vaccination Damage Act, compensation of 1,000 euros can be applied for. There is an additional confirmation of an inpatient hospital stay of 1,500 euros due to the administration of a Covid-19 vaccine.
• Long-Covid consequences: You can also apply for a lump sum of 1,000 euros if Long-Covid has been confirmed by a doctor. As with vaccination impairments, the amount is increased to 1,500 euros if hospitalization has become necessary as a result. The medical confirmation of a vaccination impairment or long-Covid must have been issued between March 16, 2020 and June 30, 2023.
• Mental disorders: If mental problems occur during the pandemic, there is a compensation payment of 1,000 euros. Here, too, a confirmation issued before June 30, 2023 is required. If you have had to take therapy because of these difficulties, the costs of up to 500 euros will be reimbursed.
• Missed leisure activities for children and young people: Costs incurred for leisure activities by children and young people are funded with a maximum of 200 euros. Specifically, these are organized activities such as holiday camps, sports and youth events, organized leisure activities in art and culture and student exchange programs.
• Financial grants for tutoring for students and apprentices. Funding will be granted for tutoring hours completed and paid for before June 30, 2023. The funding amount is a maximum of 500 euros.
• Other support required to eliminate an emergency situation through no fault of your own due to COVID-19 and its consequences (illness, accident, death in the family): If Corona and the measures caused by the virus have led to special treatment, support, therapy or funeral costs, a compensation to be requested. The one-off funding amount for this is up to 500 euros.
• Clubs for children and young people: Clubs that offer services that aim to combat problems in children and young people caused by corona and corona measures can also apply for compensation. Funding is up to a maximum of 2,000 euros per project. Projects must be submitted for a period from September 1, 2023 to February 28, 2025.
• Such funding can also be granted to associations that work for people who have damage or impairments due to the corona vaccination. You can get a grant of up to 5,000 euros. Party-affiliated associations are excluded from funding in both cases. The registered office of the association must also be in Lower Austria.

It is possible to apply for funding on February 28, 2025. The payment runs until August 31, 2025. A total of 31.3 million euros are earmarked for this – with 1.3 million euros going into the repayment of the overturned Covid penalties. The responsible state councilor Christoph Luisser (FPÖ) cannot estimate how many additional applications will be received by the state. In an interview with “ORF NÖ”, he does not rule out an increase in funds.

“We have worked hard to work through the Corona years to restore justice. As the responsible state councillor, I will do everything in my power to ensure that the Corona funding is paid out as quickly and easily as possible,” says Luisser. His ÖVP colleague, Ludwig Schleritzko, emphasizes: “The money from the fund is there so that we can draw a line under the Corona chapter in our social coexistence. The Corona fund should close rifts, not open new ones.”