Social assistance. Handbook for the Application of the Act on Social Assistance. 6th rev. ed., Helsinki, 2007. 150 pp. (Publications of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Finland, ISSN 1236-2050, 2007:11) ISBN 978-952-00-2334-8 (print.), ISBN 978-952-00-2335-5 (PDF)

The Act on Social Assistance (1412/1997) has been in force since 1998. The present handbook on social assistance replaces the previous handbook from 2003 (MSAH Handbooks 2003:10). The handbook includes the provisions of the Act on Social Assistance as they read in the amended Act of 1 January 2007.

Social assistance is intended to secure at least the necessary income referred to in the Constitution of Finland as well as to promote the independent coping of individuals and families. The aim of preventive social assistance is to promote individuals’ and families’ social security and coping independently as well as to prevent social exclusion and long-term dependence on social assistance. In order to improve the effectiveness of the social assistance system the Act has been amended several times since its entry into force to increase the use of preventive social assistance in municipalities, shortening client waiting lists and intensifying the use of means testing when granting assistance.

The structure and financing of social assistance were revised at the beginning of 2006 by dividing social assistance into basic, supplementary and preventive social assistance. In the same context, it was decided that basic social assistance would no more be covered by the general central government transfer to municipal social welfare and health care. In the future, the municipality concerned and the state will share the costs of basic social assistance equally. The amendment did not affect the criteria for granting social assistance, nor the amount of assistance received by a client, even though it is hoped to make the granting procedures more uniform.

The Act on Social Assistance was amended on 1 September to the effect that a certain percentage of the client’s housing costs is no more included in the basic amount. The trial started in 2002 in which part of the earnings of a household in receipt of social assistance is not taken into account when granting social assistance has been extended to the end of 2008.

As far as the standpoints presented in the handbook are directly based on the legislation in force the instructions given in the handbook are binding on the municipalities. The legal cases and the established judgment procedure of the Supreme Administrative Court looked at in the handbook are meant to guide the decision-making by municipal authorities. In other respects the standpoints of and the interpretations recommended by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health are intended to support the work related to granting social assistance and decision-making in municipalities.

The important theme of the handbook is that, in order to prevent social exclusion and long-term need of social assistance, municipal authorities should use basic, supplementary and preventive social assistance, social loans and financial and debt counselling as tools in securing the income of municipal residents on small incomes. This should also involve the working methods under the Act on the Status and Rights of Social Welfare Clients, and those used in social work and otherwise in the provision of social welfare in order to support people’s access to employment and promoting their living independently. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health hopes that the present handbook will be of help in the work regarding social assistance.

Key words: Act on Social Assistance, basic security, social assistance