Social Assistance Recipients Research Articles

Street-level bureaucrats’ attitudes towards clients in discretionary decision-making: Evidence from the Norwegian labour and welfare administration

It is commonly assumed that the attitudes of street level bureaucrats (SLBs) towards benefit recipients influence the discretionary decisions they make. Although discretion in the policy process has been a contentious issue, the impact of bureaucrats’ attitudes has received limited scholarly attention. This study investigates the impact of attitudes on discretionary decision-making and whether the impact of attitudes is conditioned by the SLBs’ perception of recipients’ conduct, when sanctioning non-compliance of requirements among social assistance recipients. The study employs survey data from 925 bureaucrats within the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration, measuring four attitude components: cognitive, positive affective, negative affective, and behavioral attitudes. A vignette experiment allows assessing how sensitive discretionary decision-making is to SLBs’ perceptions of recipient conduct. The findings indicate that cognitive attitudes significantly impact discretionary decision-making and are sensitive to SLBs’ perceptions of the recipients’ personal responsibility. Prejudiced cognitive attitudes (viewing recipients as dishonest, manipulative, unpredictable, or stubborn) are associated with a greater tendency to attribute non-compliance to a lack of willingness, irrespective of external circumstances. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of discretionary decision-making and sheds light on the complex dynamics between SLBs’ attitudes and their perceptions of client attributes, offering new insight for public policy and administration.

Health care and social benefits among long-term unemployed

Abstract Background There is limited knowledge on the diverse pathways behind long-term unemployment. It is considered that impaired health may lead to exclusion from working life, and that unemployment together with financial difficulties may impair health. In this study, we identify different pathways behind long-term unemployment, and analyse differences in health care and social benefits use based on the diverse pathways. This study contributes to the early identification and supportive efforts for those in risk of labour market marginalisation. Methods Those who had been mainly unemployed in years 2020 and 2021 were identified among all working age (18 to 64 years) Finnish citizens. Register data from Statistics Finland, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland and THL were combined for the analysis. Sequence analysis was conducted for individuals with main activity information for each observation years from 2013 until 2021 (n = 72,485, age 26 to 64 in year 2021). Results Those unemployed for two years were on average 49 years of age (38% women). Five clusters were identified based on the main activity over the nine observation years: unemployed (54%), students (3%), employed (23%), inactive (10%) and those returned to unemployment (10%). Health care attendance was most frequent among those in cluster inactive. Mental health diagnoses were most common among those in clusters inactive and students. Share of those with musculoskeletal diagnoses doubled from 2013 until 2021 among the previously employed. Yearly percentage of those with sickness absence (>10 days) varied from 5 to 13% based on a cluster and a year. Share of recipients of basic social assistance was relatively stable throughout the years in all clusters being highest among inactive (50 to 60%) and lowest among students (6 to 18%). Conclusions Information on labour market background might be useful for preventive efforts and while developing services and social security for those in long-term unemployment. Key messages • There exists diverse backgrounds behind long-term unemployment. • Labour market background should be considered while developing services for those in long-term unemployment.

Analysis of Village Residents Receiving Social Assistance Using Linear Regression Method

This study aims to analyze the recipients of social assistance in Banyumas Village using the simple linear regression method. The research examines how household income affects the amount of social assistance received. Data was collected from the Banyumas Village Office, including information on income and the amount of social assistance received by residents. The results show a negative relationship between household income and the amount of assistance received, where higher income leads to smaller assistance. The model also demonstrates good accuracy with an average prediction error (MAPE) of 9.38%. Additionally, an R² value of 0.999972 indicates that the model can explain almost all variations in the data. This study provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of the social assistance program in Banyumas Village and to help improve the program in the future.

Classification of Social Assistance Recipients Using Machine Learning

Social assistance is assistance funds provided by local governments. In the Minister of Home Affairs Regulation No. 32 of 2011, it is explained that social assistance is the provision of assistance in the form of money/goods from local governments to individuals, families, groups, and communities which is not continuous and selective in nature. One of the villages in North Lampung still often experiences problems, including high poverty rates and low education levels. The Naive Bayes algorithm method was chosen to classify aid recipients based on employment, age, and income. The spreadsheet calculations show that the Family Hope Program Assistance (PKH) class is 135 people and the Direct Cash Assistance (BLT) class is 39 people with a total of 176 people in the social assistance recipient data. From the results of Rapid Miner calculations, the accuracy value for the PKH and BLT classes is 100.00%.

Community Satisfaction Of Recipients Of Social Assistance For The Family Hope Program In Depok Sub-District

Community Satisfaction Of Recipients Of Social Assistance For The Family Hope Program In Depok Sub-District

Strengthening Tobacco Consumption Control Policies: Program Integration for Social Assistance Recipients in Indonesia

Strengthening Tobacco Consumption Control Policies: Program Integration for Social Assistance Recipients in Indonesia

Composite Performance Index in Decision Making for Social Assistance

The majority of the residents in this village, approximately 90%, worked as farmers or farm laborers. Given the economic conditions, social assistance became crucial in reducing social inequality and enhancing the welfare of vulnerable communities. The role of village governance was significant in improving community welfare. The Village Hall served as the center of village administration, managing various activities, including the distribution of social assistance. The Village Hall was responsible for ensuring that social assistance was distributed fairly and effectively to recipients according to prevailing policies. However, the Village Hall faced issues such as inefficiency and inequality in the distribution of social assistance. The process of selecting social assistance recipients was still conducted conventionally, where Village Hall staff collected data on the community based on certain criteria. This method was prone to errors in decision-making and incorrect distribution of assistance, such as recipients who did not actually qualify still receiving aid, while those in need often did not receive appropriate support. These issues were caused by a lack of thorough analysis. The village government needed to establish a decision-making system that was accurate and precise. The operation of this system included all steps of problem identification, selection of relevant information, and determination of the approach used for decision-making through to the resolution of the issues. To achieve accurate results, this research applied the Composite Performance Index method. The aim of this research was to create a decision support system (DSS) for selecting social assistance recipients in the village. This DSS was expected to help staff improve the speed of social assistance classification, avoid errors, and produce accurate decisions.

Examining the effects of social assistance on suicide-related behaviour among impoverished older adults in Korea using a nationwide cohort study from 2010–2019

Suicide rates among older adults in Korea are one of the highest in the world. Although prior research found that poverty is associated with suicide mortality among older adults in Korea, it is unknown whether being a recipient of social assistance may reduce suicide risk among older adults living in poverty. We examined the impact of the public assistance program on suicide-related behaviour (SRB). Data from a nationwide cohort in the Korean National Health Insurance Database, including demographic and medical treatment information, linked to the vital statistics for 2010–19 was used. The entire Korean population born before 1951 was included (n = 7,889,086). Flexible parametric survival model was performed to assess whether the risk of SRB hospitalisation and death differed across a) different levels of socioeconomic status, and b) social assistance status among the poor, using gender-stratified models. Older age, chronic disease, poverty, and being out of the labour market were associated with higher SRB hospitalisation and death for both genders. Among those living in poverty, social assistance recipients had lower rates for SRB death and hospitalisation, compared to the low-income non-recipients. Men who were non-recipients had 0.21 higher hazards ratio (95%CI 0.20 to 0.22) for SRB deaths compared to recipients, and the difference was 0.11 (95%CI 0.10 to 0.11) in women, with similar patterns for SRB hospitalizations. Poverty was associated with higher SRB death and hospitalisation among older adults in Korea. Social assistance targeting the older population may help reduce SRB.

Evaluating fidelity and feasibility of the self-management of well-being intervention for long-term social assistance recipients

Evaluating fidelity and feasibility of the self-management of well-being intervention for long-term social assistance recipients

THE MAIN FACTORS THAT ESTABLISH THE WELFARE OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY’S BENEFICIARIES OF PERTAMINA FOUNDATION

Social welfare has grown to be a crucial component of national development policies. At the same time, important to aware that less prosperous communities, including the homeless, street children, child labourers, and migrant workers, are the primary recipients of social assistance. Social welfare is a condition of human life created when various social problems can be managed properly. This understanding places social welfare as the goal of development activities. Corporate social responsibility is one of the programs considered as one that can contribute to the welfare of society. This research aims to analyse, confirm, and then conduct research to gather facts and conclusions regarding the main factors that establish the welfare of corporate social responsibility beneficiaries of the Pertamina Foundation. This quantitative research using surveys through google form to Pertamina Foundation's beneficiaries using a Likert scale. This research also uses SEM methods with LISREL as a tool. The result shows that CSR- Economic Aspect (X1), CSR-Social Aspect (X2) and CSR-Environmental Aspect (X3) positively and significantly influences the welfare of Pertamina Foundation’s beneficiaries.

Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA) of Social Aid Recipients in Murung Raya District Central Kalimantan Province with Machine Learning Approach

Various kinds of problems often occur in programs implemented by the government, one of which is the problem that often arises is the uneven distribution of social assistance carried out to people with low economic levels, poverty is the main problem being faced by all countries in the world, including Indonesia. The purpose of implementing the dataset of social assistance recipients using EDA. To find the correlation of 4 variables, namely Number of Population, Number of Recipients, Occupation, and Age in the dataset of social assistance recipients in Murung Raya District, Central Kalimantan Province, with a machine learning approach. Then the research method used here is quantitative methods and experiments with machine learning approaches. So by using the EDA method on data on social assistance recipients in Murung Raya Regency, Central Kalimantan Province, it can be seen that the variable Number of population has.

ON THE ISSUE OF THE GOALS AND LEGAL PRINCIPLES OF PROVIDING SOCIAL ASSISTANCE IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

The relevance of the research topic lies in the fact that social assistance is an important component of guarantees of the social security of citizens’ social rights. The article reveals the main task of the state social policy, which is to achieve the well-being of an individual and society as a whole through fair and equal access for all citizens to state social assistance. The article is devoted to the analysis of the goals of providing social assistance to persons in need, enshrined in the Federal Law of 17.07.1999 N 178-FZ "On State Social Assistance". The purpose of the study is to analyze and clarify the objectives set out in the Law on Social Assistance, to define the legal principles of state social assistance and to disclose their content. Materials and methods. The methodological basis of the research is predetermined by the set goal and objectives, as well as by the idea of the existence of universal, general scientific, private scientific and special legal research methods. The paper presents an analysis of legislation, practical experience of its use and scientific doctrine on the goals and principles of social protection and social assistance. The article reveals the concept of state social assistance; the opinions of scientists on the main goals of social protection are given. To conduct a full-fledged analysis, the subject composition of recipients of state social assistance is considered. Such subjects include low-income families, low-income citizens living alone and other categories of citizens who, for reasons beyond their control, have an average per capita income below the subsistence minimum. The result of the study. The authors propose their own formulations of the goals of social protection, assess the implementation of the goals in practice provided for in the legislation, identify the causes of emerging problems with the provision of social assistance, among which the lack of clear and concise rules for the provision of social assistance stands out. These will contribute to the development of legislation. Based on the analysis of legislation and law enforcement practice, their own principles have been put forward. These include targeting, accessibility, humanity, voluntariness, targeted use of budget funds, clarity, and equality. The article reveals the content of each of these principles. The practical and theoretical significance of the study is manifested in the fact that the improvement of legislation on social assistance should take place taking into account the goals and principles discussed in the article, which should be reflected in regulatory legal acts. It will make it possible to create a more effective system of social support for citizens and will contribute to improving the quality of life of the population. Conclusions. It is concluded that it is necessary to clarify the objectives specified in the Law, as well as to supplement it with an article containing the legal principles on which the legislation on social assistance will be based.

Assessing the Effectiveness of Social Assistance Programs to Alleviating Poverty in Indonesia

Poverty in Indonesia is a fundamental problem that needs special attention. The government is trying to alleviate poverty by introducting various programs to people who are below the poverty line. One of these programs is the Social Assistance Program. This research aims to determine the extent of the impact of social assistance programs on poverty reduction in Indonesia. The method used is a quantitative method with analytical tools, namely R, to carry out regression analysis on the data. The data used include (1) data on poverty levels in Indonesia, (2) demographic data on the Indonesian population, (3) data on social assistance programs organized by the government or other institutions, (4) data on household or individual income, and (5) data related to the socio-economic conditions of social assistance recipients. The research results show that social assistance programs influence poverty reduction. Influence can be increased by (1) providing clear regulations and rules in implementing aid, (2) cross-checking target recipients of aid, and (3) carrying out regular monitoring and evaluation of aid program implementation.
 Keywords: policy evaluation, social assistance program, poverty, Indonesia

Evaluation of the Family Hope Program (PKH) in Taraitak Village, North Langowan District

This study aims to determine, describe and analyze the Evaluation of the Family Hope Program (PKH) in Taraitak Village, Langowan Utara District in accordance with the Regulation of the Minister of Social Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia Number 1 of 2018 concerning the Family Hope Program and the PKH Implementation Guidebook using qualitative research methods. The results showed that: 1) There are technical guidelines and rules that have been given by PKH administrators through the implementation of deliberations, but PKH policy actors still do not know in detail the guidelines and rules regarding PKH, then there are 36 KPM PKH in Taraitak Village but there is still no updating of KPM PKH data. 2) KPM PKH receives money sent to the accounts of each KPM and also receives basic necessities at BRI-Link Agents, but the recipients of PKH social assistance in Taraitak village are still not on target. 3) Existing village officials do not know the exact amount of funds received by KPM PKH, but this PKH policy is very useful and even helps the community economy.

ИНФОРМАЦИОННЫЕ ТЕХНОЛОГИИ В ЗДРАВООХРАНЕНИИ НА ТЕРРИТОРИИ ВОЛГОГРАДСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ

At the present stage, information technologies in healthcare allow medical institutions to use ample opportunities to automate processes for working with large amounts of data. Information and analytical support for healthcare management, management of the statistical reporting system in healthcare institutions helps optimize work. Medical information systems are used to carry out the function of controlling the costs of providing medical care, providing the necessary access to medical and statistical information of healthcare institutions for making management decisions by automating administrative and medical activities, personalized accounting of medical services provided to the population, providing cost analysis for the provision of medical services . The information provided on the page of the Internet resource "Volgograd Regional Medical Information and Analytical Center" is used to obtain current indicators on the activities of healthcare institutions, the state of public health and management of the statistical accounting and reporting system in medical organizations. The work analyzes data on the number of doctors and paramedics who prescribe medications to patients belonging to the categories of persons receiving preferential treatment for high-cost nosologies, as well as federal and regional preferential drug coverage. The analysis of data from an automated information system used to generate personalized information for healthcare institutions about potential recipients of social assistance showed an increase in the number of doctors and paramedics writing prescriptions to preferential categories of citizens for high-cost nosologies, in the federal and regional segments. It is shown that during the study period there was an increase in the number of medical specialists working with an automated information system.

Trajectories among recipients of social assistance in Norway: A local approach

AbstractBackground and PurposeLittle scholarly attention has been paid to variations in local welfare provisions and how they frame beneficiaries’ welfare‐work trajectories. This is unfortunate since increasingly a varied menu of services is provided locally and welfare‐work trajectories unfold in a local context. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to this debate by examining the welfare‐work trajectories among young social assistance recipients in Norwegian municipalities and how they are related to the local setting and in particular the organization of the local welfare office.Data and MethodsNational registers provide longitudinal information on all young social assistance recipients (N = 4654) in 2012. Information on municipalities (N = 373) and the local labour and welfare offices (N = 399) is collected from official government sources. Welfare‐work trajectories spanning seven years are created by sequence analysis forming eight clusters. The relationship between organizational features of the labour and welfare office and trajectory clusters is modelled by means of multinomial logistic regression, after controlling for variables on the individual, the municipal, and the regional level.ResultsThe analysis shows that: (a) among the individual variables, those reflecting poor health consistently predict trajectories characterized by benefit receipt and loose attachment to the labour market; (b) variables related to the municipal level are of limited importance, and (c) variables pertaining to the organization of the labour and welfare offices play a minor role.ConclusionOnce individual, municipal, and regional labour market factors are considered, characteristics of the welfare office are of marginal significance. [Correction added on 17 September 2024, after first online publication: The Abstract and Keywords have been added in this version.]

Randomized Controlled Trial of Counseling Approach for Long-Term Welfare Recipients in Switzerland

Purpose This study examines the impact of “Change in Direction,” a counseling approach for long-term social assistance recipients in Switzerland. Method The results of the study are based on a randomized controlled trial ( n intervention group = 31/32, n comparison group = 50/48). Outcome measures were obtained from a two-wave survey and administrative data. Results The intervention increased clients’ mastery (= experience of competence, β = .46, p = .038) and vitality (= one aspect of well-being, β = .61, p = .008), reducing the gap with the general Swiss working age population by 35% and 54%, respectively. However, the intervention did not increase clients’ general life satisfaction or earnings, nor did it reduce health expenditures or cash transfer receipt. Discussion Findings show that goal-oriented counseling can improve feelings of competence and well-being among long-term welfare recipients but that it cannot improve labor market outcomes and financial self-sufficiency.

TO HEAT OR NOT TO HEAT? ON (IN)PERCEPTIBLE ENERGY POVERTY AMONG THE POOR

This research investigates energy poverty among social assistance beneficiaries in the Masovian Voivodeship, focusing on both objective and subjective dimensions. Energy poverty, characterized by the inability to afford adequate energy services, is examined through the Low Income High Cost (LIHC) measure and respondents’ subjective experiences. The study, based on a 2023 survey of 625 individuals, compares the Warsaw Capital Region and the Masovian Regional Region within the voivodeship. Results reveal that a significant proportion of beneficiaries face challenges in meeting energy needs, with 75% exceeding the 10% LIHC threshold. Strategies for coping include relying on social assistance, limiting current needs, seeking help from relatives, and dressing appropriately for indoor temperatures. The research covers energy poverty with economic, social, and health factors, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions and financial support mechanisms. Findings also highlight the impact of energy prices, varied energy consumption patterns, and subjective perceptions of energy poverty. The study contributes valuable insights into the complex phenomenon of energy poverty among social assistance recipients in the region.

Explaining the abolition of the wage stop in the UK

Before the introduction of the household benefit cap in the UK in 2013 the previous mechanism there limited the income of social assistance recipients was the wage stop, operating for four decades between 1935 and 1975. Similar to the benefit cap, the wage stop reflected and reproduced concerns with incentivising unemployed people to labour. This raises questions about why the wage stop was abolished in the mid-1970s when worries about unemployment continued, particularly its intersections with out-of-work benefits. It is widely argued that the abolition of the wage stop was a consequence of lobbying by the Child Poverty Action Group. Drawing upon records held at the UK’s National Archives, this article argues that this is an over-simplified explanation that, first, ignores concerns with the wage stop that pre-dated the Child Poverty Action Group’s criticism of it, including concerns within the assistance boards with its administration. And, second, while by the mid-1970s there was (albeit ambiguous) concern with the impacts of the wage stop, there was a shift in approach that emphasised the supplementation of low wages with social security benefits, rather than forcing social assistance below the assessed needs of households, as being a preferable means of ensuring the incentive to take wage-labour.

Bantuan tangan kasih (Keberpihakan pemerintah daerah dalam upaya stabilisasi ketahanan sosial dan ekonomi masyarakat di Kota Sorong)

This study aims to determine and describe the form of government alignments in efforts to stabilize the social and economic resilience of the community in the implementation of Bantuan Tangan Kasih in Sorong City in 2021 to 2022. This research uses a descriptive qualitative approach. Location research was conducted in Sorong City, precisely at the Sorong City Manpower Office as the authorized agency in the implementation of Bantuan Tangan Kasih. Data collection techniques were carried out using observation, interview and documentation methods. The data analysis technique uses the Huberman and Miles interactive analysis model, namely, data reduction, data display, conclusion drawing. Bantuan Tangan Kasih is a social assistance program that focuses on people who are not validated as beneficiaries of social assistance from the government, for example, BPNT, BLT, PKH or other similar social assistance. The principle of no left behind is a form of government partiality to people who are economically disadvantaged but not validated as recipients of government assistance or complementary social assistance. The alignment aspect of the Sorong City Government is clearly visible after the implementation process which includes data collection of prospective recipients, distribution and reports on the results of the implementation of the Bantuan Tangan Kasih Assistance has been completed. From 2020 to 2022, the Hand of Love Assistance in Sorong City has been implemented well and received a positive response from the community. The form of government partiality can be interpreted through the process of creativity/innovation, implementation, commitment.