Harmonization, combination of basic social benefits proposed

The Social Security Committee on Thursday published its interim report where the committee proposed that caused-based basic social security benefits be harmonised and combined, taking into account earnings-related benefits, said the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in a press release.

The report includes 31 proposals for reforming social security under future governments and the policy guidelines for the Committee’s work during its second term.

The committee is in favour of looking into one basic social security benefit at the next phase of the social security reform.

One basic social security benefit would be a cause-based benefit, and the conditions for granting the benefit would vary depending on the life situation of the person applying for it. Finland would introduce the benefit gradually.

The Committee proposes that caused-based basic social security benefits be harmonised and combined, taking into account earnings-related benefits.

The aim is to clarify and simplify the benefit system and its implementation and to ease the transition from one benefit to another.

The Committee proposed that the next Government examine which of the conditions for granting benefits could be harmonised and how. It is also necessary to assess how different alternatives would affect the status of beneficiaries and public finances, for example.

On March 19, 2020, the Government appointed a parliamentary Social Security Committee to prepare a social security reform over the course of two parliamentary terms.

The Committee’s work aims to achieve a long-term perspective in developing the structure and operation of social security.

The Committee addresses questions related to basic social security, earnings-related benefits and social assistance and examines the financing and connections between these forms of support.