New Fee: Millions of Austrian Pensioners to Pay for E-Card Service

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Vienna – Millions of Austrian pensioners will have to pay the annual E-Card service fee from 2027, following a government decision to extend the charge to retirees as part of broader budget consolidation measures.

The fee for 2027 has been set at €26.85 and will be deducted automatically from pension payments in November 2026. Pensioners do not need to submit an application or make a separate payment. The deduction will result in a correspondingly lower pension payout for affected individuals.

Until now, pensioners had generally been exempt from the E-Card service charge. However, under the new rules, the fee will also apply to retirees, with 15 November 2026 serving as the key date for the deduction.

E-Card Fee Has Increased Sharply

The cost of the annual E-Card service fee has risen significantly in recent years. In 2025, the charge stood at €13.80. It increased to €25.00 in 2026 and is scheduled to rise further to €26.85 in 2027.

The payment is collected once per year and is not a monthly charge.

Who Is Exempt?

Not all pensioners will be required to pay the fee.

Among those exempt are recipients of Austria’s compensatory allowance (Ausgleichszulage). Individuals who are legally exempt from prescription charges due to financial hardship or social protection provisions are also generally exempt from the E-Card service fee.

Eligibility for an exemption depends on the specific legal requirements applicable to each individual case.

Pension Increase Offers Limited Relief

The new charge comes as pensioners are set to receive another pension adjustment from January 2027.

According to the available plans, pensions of up to €6,930 gross per month are expected to increase by 2.95 percent. Pensioners with higher monthly pensions are due to receive a fixed increase of €204.44. The benchmark rates for the compensatory allowance are also expected to rise by 3.3 percent.

However, for many retirees the planned pension increase remains below the relevant inflation rate, meaning purchasing power could continue to come under pressure despite higher nominal payments.

The introduction of the E-Card fee for pensioners will further reduce disposable income for those affected. Pensioners are therefore advised to check their November pension statements carefully and verify whether they qualify for an exemption from the service charge.