SCP: infeasible work for a third of welfare recipients

For around a third of social assistance recipients, paid work is not a viable option. Here’s what the Office of Social and Cultural Planning (SCP) says. For that reason, legislation should not focus only on directing people to paid work, the researchers say.

In the study, the planning group looked at the Participation Act, which was amended and submitted to the House of Representatives. The restoration of trust between the government and recipients of social assistance is an important issue in the new law. The emphasis is also on finding a job that is not that difficult.

“The planning group’s research supports the proposed policy changes to the Participation Act,” says SCP director Karen van Oudenhoven. The director sees too little trust between social assistance recipients and the government in the current situation. “Although trust is so important when you want to help people,” says Van Oudenhoven.

The main purpose of the current Participation Act is to guide people into paid work so that they no longer need benefits. “Fortunately, there is a large group of social assistance recipients where this works well,” said Van Oudenhoven.

“Furthermore, there is a second group of people who cannot work directly, but who can participate in other ways, for example as a volunteer. Finally, there is a third group of people where the problems are so great that there is no other work or solution.”

Therefore, the planning group recommends providing support for a better quality of life for these last two groups. “Because if someone is doing well personally, it is also good for society,” says Van Oudenhoven.

The results of the research also show that recipients of social assistance sometimes feel that they are seen as frauds. That’s why they don’t always talk about their problems.

If the government trusts this wants to break through, according to the researchers, this requires a change in how you look at people.