Social Security 2030 – alternatives 

Key objective of this alternative

To simplify and make clearer basic security in different life situations and to ensure basic income where there is no right to income- or insurance-based social security.

Key features of this alternative

• Social security would be simplified by combining means-assessed basic benefits and the basic component of income support into one single benefit which is decreased based on the incomes of the whole household: A family-specific “Security Guarantee”
• This security guarantee would have two levels according to whether the individual has access to measures to promote employability and rehabilitation. If yes, the level would be at the current level of basic daily allowance. If no, the level would be at 60% of the current basic component of income support.
• The pension guarantee would remain as it is now.
• The remaining income support payments would be combined into one single income support.
• Support for housing expenses that is currently part of housing allowance and income support would be combined into a single benefit.

Key objective of this alternative

The comprehensive overhaul of social security and services for the working-age population in order to support people into work and skills development.

Key features of this alternative

• Study benefit for only one degree; tied to making progress in studies. Study supervision to be improved where needed.
• Skills security providing flexible opportunities for re-education.
• Assessments of educational needs and provision of educational guidance to be provided quicker than at present.
• Rehabilitation support provided where needed.
• Opportunity for housing support: maximum housing costs standardised at the level of the employment area.
• Supplementary and preventative income support in municipalities to be combined with well-resourced social work.
• During long periods of sickness and rehabilitation daily allowances, assessments of educational need and educational guidance to be provided alongside assessments of work capacity.

Key features of this alternative

Individual basic security is unconditional. In model A, an increase to the low basic security can be obtained by degrees on a conditional basis. In model B, there is no different levels and the whole basic security is unconditional.

Model A

• Graded model that combines unconditional and conditional elements 
• The unconditional basic security is 60% of the current basic component of income support. By participating in activities that benefit society (work or study is not a requirement), the benefit may be raised to the level of current basic security benefits.

Model B

• Unconditional basic security benefit
• The unconditional basic security is set at the level of standardised basic security benefits.

Common to both models

• Basic security benefits are standardised.
• Possibility of obtaining housing support. 
• Right of access to all social and healthcare services remains unchanged.
• Services are customised to be attractive and without obligations (risk-of-exclusion situations).