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Is There Room for Targeting within Universalism? Finnish Social Assistance Recipients as Social Citizens

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  • Paula Saikkonen

    (Social Policy Research, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Finland)

  • Minna Ylikännö

    (Kela—Social Insurance Institution of Finland, Finland)

Abstract

This article focuses on the role of means-tested social assistance in Finland, which is often considered one of the Nordic welfare states described as having a universal welfare model. The article scrutinises the capacity of the final safety net to enhance the social citizenship of social assistance recipients. The Finnish social security system combines social insurance (earnings-related benefits), universal benefits (flat-rate benefits), free or affordable public services, and social assistance as a means-tested and targeted element, and thus it is a discussion on the degree of universalism that best captures the nature of universalism in the Finnish welfare state. Because the final safety net includes public services (especially social work) and income transfers (especially social assistance), its ability to strengthen social citizenship depends on both elements—separately and as a combination—as there may be a simultaneous need for financial aid and services. Whilst national registers provide data on social assistance, there is no national register data on municipal social services, which is why a survey was conducted. In this study, the heterogenic clients supported by the final safety net were described based on an open-ended question in the survey data. Statistics were then used to evaluate the frequency of client groups (capable clients, persistent clients, invisible clients, safety net dropouts). The article concludes that universalism as a social policy principle is challenged by the diversity of the clientele.

Suggested Citation

  • Paula Saikkonen & Minna Ylikännö, 2020. "Is There Room for Targeting within Universalism? Finnish Social Assistance Recipients as Social Citizens," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(1), pages 145-154.
    • Handle: RePEc:cog:socinc:v:8:y:2020:i:1:p:145-154
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wim van Oorschot & Femke Roosma, 2015. "The social legitimacy of differently targeted benefits," ImPRovE Working Papers 15/11, Herman Deleeck Centre for Social Policy, University of Antwerp.
    2. Gough, Ian, 2019. "Universal Basic Services: a theoretical and moral framework," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 101051, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    3. Sampo Varjonen, 2020. "Institutional evolution and abrupt change: Reforming the administration of social assistance in Finland," International Journal of Social Welfare, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(1), pages 62-70, January.
    4. Joakim Palme & Walter Korpi, 1998. "The Paradox of Redistribution and Strategies of Equality: Welfare State Institutions, Inequality and Poverty in the Western Countries," LIS Working papers 174, LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg.
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    Cited by:

    1. Muinde, Jacinta Victoria S. & Prince, Ruth Jane, 2023. "A new universalism? Universal health coverage and debates about rights, solidarity and inequality in Kenya," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 319(C).
    2. Monica Budowski & Daniel Künzler, 2020. "Universalism in Social Policies: A Multidimensional Concept, Policy Idea or Process," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(1), pages 86-89.

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