Sozialamt / MA 40 letter explained in English
Social aid office. Pays basic support to live on (Sozialhilfe; in Vienna: Mindestsicherung) if your income is too low.
Letters you may get
- Bescheid — how much support you get, or a rejection
- Aufforderung zur Vorlage von Unterlagen — they need proof of your income and costs
What to do
- Tell them at once if your income, rent or household changes. Otherwise you may have to pay money back.
- Find the deadline. Look for “Frist”, “bis zum”, “innerhalb”.
- Write the reference number from the letter on everything you send back, and keep copies.
- If you disagree with a decision, object in writing before the deadline (“Beschwerde”, “Vorstellung”, “Einspruch”, “Beschwerde”). See the template.
Words you may see
- Bescheid
- Official decision. It becomes final if you don’t object in time.
- Sozialhilfe / Mindestsicherung
- Basic support to live on if your income is too low. It is paid by your province; in Vienna it is called Mindestsicherung.
Questions
What is the Sozialamt / MA 40?
Social aid office. Pays basic support to live on (Sozialhilfe; in Vienna: Mindestsicherung) if your income is too low.
How long do I have to answer a letter from the Sozialamt / MA 40?
It depends on the letter. Look for words like “Frist”, “bis zum”, “innerhalb” — they mark the deadline. In Austria, an official letter sent by normal post usually counts as delivered on the 3rd working day after it was posted. A registered letter (RSa or RSb) counts as delivered on the day you get it — or, if you were not home, usually on the first day you can pick it up at the post office. To object, the letter usually names the way to do it (“Beschwerde”, “Vorstellung”, “Einspruch”, “Beschwerde”).
Can I read a Sozialamt / MA 40 letter in English?
Yes. Take a photo of the letter with Briefly. It explains the letter in plain English, finds the deadline and the amount, and gives you ready-made replies in German. Your letter never leaves your device.
Other offices in Austria
Finanzamt Österreich · Familienbeihilfe (Finanzamt Österreich) · AMS (Arbeitsmarktservice) · Magistrat / Bezirkshauptmannschaft · MA 35 / Niederlassungsbehörde · Meldeamt / Meldeservice · ÖGK (Österreichische Gesundheitskasse) · SVS (Sozialversicherung der Selbständigen)