Investigating human rights 2.2 Investigating human rights 2.2.1 Labour, social affairs and consumer protection Disability matters and support law Discrimination of persons with disabilities Many people with impairments and their relatives contacted the AOB in the year under review. Matters of complaints included looking for a training position or employment, funding of necessary, disability-related purchases and the issuance of disability passes and parking permits. Complaints were submitted about discrimination compared with the treatment of persons without disability and the lack of access to rehabilitation facilities that are suited to their needs. Slight decrease in the number of complaints The complaints about the Ministry of Social Affairs Service (Sozialministeriumservice) fell slightly, to around 70 submissions. More than half of these concerned the issuance of parking permits. The number of complaints about the duration of proceedings at the Ministry of Social Affairs Service decreased. Some 30 complaints had to do with delays at the Federal Administrative Court. The AOB can only become active in these cases if a suspected delay by the court is the reason for the complaint, which applies in about half of the cases. Employment of persons with disabilities It is becoming increasingly difficult for persons with disabilities to find employment on the regular labour market. Criticism of limit on additional income Ms N.N. told the AOB that she cannot work full-time due to numerous impairments. She receives benefits under the needs-based minimum benefit system and wanted to look for part-time employment. Recipients of unemployment benefits can earn up to a certain threshold for marginal earnings while looking for work. The limits on additional income are considerably lower for persons with disabilities who receive needs-based minimum benefits. The earnings disregard is just 60 euros for them. Ms N.N. thus feels discriminated compared to those without disability looking for work. No job offers for social service workers for persons with disabilities Mr N.N. contacted the AOB because he was unable to find employment in spite of a qualification as a social service worker for persons with disabilities. He completed his training within the framework of a project for the professional integration of persons with special educational needs. He now complains that vacant positions are neither offered by the Public Employment Service Austria (Arbeitsmarktservice) nor on the employment market. 46