EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Information on social benefits recipients is not always up to date

Information on social benefits recipients is not always up to date

Introduction

The report 'Opportunities in Sight?’ (Zicht op Kansen?) is a study by the Work and Income Inspectorate into the systematic accumulation of knowledge by local authorities about those entitled to social benefits. Almost all local authorities make use of client monitoring systems: automated systems with information about those entitled to social benefits. The study has shown that the most important data are included, but these data are in practice not up to date. Moreover, there is also room for improvement with respect to the recording of information on work opportunities.

Description

The institution of the Work and Benefits Act (WWB) and thereby the increased focus on the motivation of clients, has made local authorities conscious of the importance of correct, complete and accessible data on their clients. Just about all the cities investigated have a client monitoring system in which they record relevant data on clients. For cities with more than two hundred persons entitled to benefits, according to IWI, an important boundary condition is that a client monitoring system is present. Only in this way can a city retain an overview of the whole client database. A client monitoring system is expected to fulfil a number of conditions in order to provide significant support in the motivation of clients.

Conclusions

In general, it is true that cities can profit from entering data into and utilising the information systems, for example, for the analysis of information to gain more knowledge on individuals in relation to the employment market. In particular, accurate data concerning work opportunities could be recorded in a more helpful manner.
Many cities find it important to make a clear assessment of developments concerning their benefits recipients. They are also prepared to invest in these assessments because they can utilise the knowledge to help more people to find work.
Within the framework of the conversion of the National Assistance Act (ABW) into the Work and Benefits Act (WWB), cities must reassess those entitled to social benefits before 2006 with respect to their chances in the labour market. This concerns people who became recipients before 2004. In the WWB, the focus is on getting people on benefits back to work. Some cities have used this reassessment operation to clean up their files. It is important that the cities keep the information continually up to date.

Contact info

Work and Income Inspectorate (IWI)
communicatie@iwiweb.nl

Publication date

01/11/2005

Researcher

Work and Income Inspectorate (IWI)

Article info
ISBN: 90-5079-138-7

Links

Work and Income Inspectorate (IWI)

Zicht op Kansen? (PDF, Dut, 110 KB)

Document type

research

Themes

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Quality of life

Keywords

Social services