The Rising Cost of Living and Increasing Need for Subsistence Allowance in Tallinn, Estonia

The deputy mayor of Tallinn, Betina Beškina, informed that the rising cost of living has affected the families living in the capital of Estonia.

Beshkina pointed out that the subsistence allowance is essential for families living in absolute poverty in order to be able to keep their housing and provide basic needs.

Last year, a total of 11,000 families needed living allowance in the amount of 15 million euros, but by the end of July this year, 6,000 families have already received support from the municipality in the amount of 11.3 million euros, Beshkina informed.

Statistical data show that the number of requests for subsistence allowance increased by almost 31% compared to the same period last year. If last year the municipality of Tallinn received 16,000 applications for living allowance, the number of applications received so far this year has already reached 21,000. At the same time, the number of families and family members who have received benefits has decreased by 20%.

The vice-mayor of Tallinn said that in the first half of the year, the average amount of benefit received by a household was 1,754 euros, while last year it was 856 euros. In addition, if last year in the considered period the family needed the allowance twice on average, then this year it was needed almost four times.

In connection with the rising cost of living, Tallinn Municipality has invited the Social Affairs Commission of the Estonian Parliament to evaluate and revise the living wage threshold for the next year, so that people’s financial situation does not worsen.

In addition to the living allowance, the municipality of Tallinn paid out almost 600,000 euros to less than 4,000 families with other types of financial support in the first half of the year. The amount of the paid amount increased by 8% year-on-year, while the number of families who received it increased by 6%.

Tallinn has a population of 454,000.

2023-09-25 11:41:13
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