More jobless seek income support due to benefit cuts

The level of basic social security has deteriorated under the current government forcing more unemployed persons to seek income support, said National Institute for Health and Welfare-THL in a release citing a recent report.

The level of basic social security has been undermined by cuts in the unemployment benefits and general housing support brought about by the activation model, said a report evaluating basic social security for the period 2015-2019.

According to the report, the level of basic social security for pensioners, sickness allowance and parental benefits have remained largely unchanged.

On the other hand, students have become more than ever dependent on loans.

The role of income support to patch up for the deficiency in basic social security for the unemployed in cases has increased considerably since 2015 even by a hundred euros a month, said Jussi Tervola, research manager at THL.

According to THL, what is considered a sufficient level of basic security is ultimately a political decision.

The report is used as an indicative benchmark against which to measure, among other things, Center for Consumer Society Research reasonable minimum spending budgets.