How far does the protection of the rights to an adequate standard of living, to social security, to food and housing, to health, education and work actually extend? Do these rights apply to citizens and asylum seekers to the same extent? Doesn’t the guarantee of these rights depend on the economic performance of a state? What are the special requirements for unaccompanied minor asylum seekers? These and other, often controversial questions are dealt with in this study from a jurisprudential perspective. The developments in Austria between October 2002 and September 2003 – especially in the field of federal care – are given special consideration.