Lower Threshold for Claiming? Basic Social Assistance Recipiency in Helsinki Before and After the Centralisation Reform
Abstract
In 2017, basic social assistance (BSA) was centralised and transferred from the municipalities to Kela, a national-level organisation. This study explores how the reform is reflected in the number of claimants and recipients of BSA as well as the duration of recipiency in Helsinki. The research is based on comprehensive register data from 2011 to 2019. Background variables include age, gender, marital status, nationality, income level, and receiving other benefits paid by Kela. According to the results, claiming BSA became more common in all groups and, in some groups, also the recipiency became more common after the reform. Young people, foreign citizens and recipients of other benefits from Kela claimed and received BSA more often after the reform. The length of BSA recipiency shortened in almost all groups, particularly among those aged 65 and over. At least in Helsinki, the threshold for claiming BSA appears to have lowered after the reform.
Full text (in Finnish) (journal.fi)
Authors
Tuija Korpela, Hanna-Mari Heinonen, Markku Laatu
Additional Information
- Peer-Reviewed: yes.
- Open Access: yes.
- Cite as: Korpela, T., Heinonen, H.-M., & Laatu, M. (2024). Madaltuiko asiointikynnys? Perustoimeentulotukiasiakkuus Helsingissä ennen ja jälkeen Kela-siirron. Janus Sosiaalipolitiikan ja sosiaalityön tutkimuksen aikakauslehti, 32(2), 151–169. https://doi.org/10.30668/janus.126931
