A couple in Austria with nine children, including two who are severely disabled, are allegedly requesting IVF treatment so they can have more.
Despite already having nine children, the couple said that they want to have even more children and have been trying for a 10th.
However their wish for a larger family was proving difficult because the woman, who was born in 1972 and is now 44, was struggling to become pregnant again.
And they have now requested IVF treatment, which in Austria can be provided by the health service which pays up to 70 percent of the costs.
However their wish for a larger family was proving difficult because the woman, who was born in 1972 and is now 44, was struggling to become pregnant again.
And they have now requested IVF treatment, which in Austria can be provided by the health service which pays up to 70 percent of the costs.
In some instances the health service will refuse to pay, with the age of the woman being one limiting factor. But regardless of who pays for the actual IVF, the state will still pay for all of the proprietary work including hospital stays, blood tests, sperm tests and various gynaecological costs including the ultrasound bill.
The story has caused a heated debate in Austria, with some criticising the request from the family - who are originally from Afghanistan - as they already received around €5,682 a month in benefits, according to the Krone newspaper.
The application for IVF treatment to have a 10th child was made to the Universitatsklinik fur Frauenheilkunde (University Clinic for Gynaecology). According to local media the woman had been advised that because of her age, there was a limited chance of success but the pair had reportedly wanted to go ahead.
The application for IVF treatment to have a 10th child was made to the Universitatsklinik fur Frauenheilkunde (University Clinic for Gynaecology). According to local media the woman had been advised that because of her age, there was a limited chance of success but the pair had reportedly wanted to go ahead.
The couple's oldest son is 20 years old, and their youngest child, a daughter, was born in 2011.
For two adults and seven under-age children, the family are paid €2,840.04, for the two older children they are entitled to a further €837.76 which means a monthly payment of €3,677.80. This works out to €44,133 to support the 12 person family for a year.
Furthermore, the family gets a further €2004.80 in family allowances, making up a total of €5,682.60 per month.
For two adults and seven under-age children, the family are paid €2,840.04, for the two older children they are entitled to a further €837.76 which means a monthly payment of €3,677.80. This works out to €44,133 to support the 12 person family for a year.
Furthermore, the family gets a further €2004.80 in family allowances, making up a total of €5,682.60 per month.
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