The aim of research was to analyze the duration of first spells of social assistance receipt and the total time that new recipients received the benefit during the follow-up period of 3 or 4 years. The differences between cities – before and after controlling the impact of age, household type and socioeconomic background – were analyzed, too.

The background of the research was almost total lack of exact information on the duration of the social assistance receipt and the inadequacy of the methods applied until now. 

Research was restricted to the first spells of new recipients. Main methods were survival analysis and hazard models.

Average duration of spells (criterion of which was at least 12 month’s break) was quite short. Median duration was seven months, and only 17.5 percent of spells lasted longer than 36 months. Differences between cities were quite small and much smaller than ten years earlier. Most important invidual characteristic was the age of recipient. The risk of long-term benefit dependency was very high only in the age group 18 to 19 years.

University of Helsinki, Palmenia Centre for Research and Continuing Education
Finland
http://www.helsinki.fi/palmenia/english
Mr. Ilkka Haapola (Senior researcher)

02/01/2007

Ilkka Haapola and Timo M. Kauppinen

research

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Quality of life

Social services, Financial inclusion