Government does not always help people on welfare well enough | Economy

09 Jun 2023 at 05:08

The Participation Act, which has been governing social assistance since 2015, focuses too much on paid work. As a result, welfare recipients do not always receive sufficient help with their problems, concludes the Social and Cultural Planning Office (SCP) in a new study.

The main aim of the law is to help as many people as possible get back to work. Many municipalities therefore focus mainly on people who can relatively easily return to paid work. But people on social assistance benefits do not always need this, according to the SCP study.

People on welfare often struggle with other problems. This concerns, for example, problems with administrative or household tasks, climbing stairs and health. As a result, they participate less actively in society and feel lonely more often.

The study also shows that many municipalities are interpreting the Participation Act differently. The support that people on welfare receive can therefore vary greatly from municipality to municipality.

SCP: All people on benefits should be able to receive the same help

On 14 June, the House of Representatives will debate changing the Participation Act. According to the SCP, it is important that the law is revised. The aid should be more in line with the lives of people on social assistance benefits and their problems.

Some of those entitled to social assistance would be willing and able to return to work. But due to the problems they face, paid work is not always realistic.

According to the SCP, the new law should also ensure that all people on benefits can receive the same help, regardless of which municipality they live in.

Source