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Social Protection in the Nordic Countries 2015/2016

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Social Protection in the Nordic Countries 2015/2016 2015/2016 Social Protection in the Nordic Countries Scope, Expenditure and Financing nososco Nordic Social Statistical Committee 63:2017 Social Protection in the Nordic Countries 2015/2016 Social Protection in the Nordic Countries 2015/2016 Scope, Expenditure and Financing Revised Social Protection in the Nordic Countries 2015/2016 Scope, Expenditure and Financing Version 63:2017 © Nordic Social Statistical Committee 2017 Published by the Nordic Social Statistical Committee (NOSOSCO) Website: nowbase.org Editor: Jesper Munk Marcussen Layout and Graphics: Lene Kokholm ISBN 978-87-90248-76-7 Preface Preface The Nordic Social Statistical Committee (NOSOSCO), under the auspices of the Nordic Council of Ministers, has the task of co-ordinating social statistics from the Nordic countries, by comparing analyses and descriptions of the scope and content of social welfare measures. The Committee comprises three representatives from each country, along with a number of substitutes. The chair rotates among the countries, following the same sequence as the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers. In 2016, Finland holds the chair. NOSOSCO publishes its findings on social trends and development in its report So- cial Protection in the Nordic Countries. The report has included data from the Faroe Islands since 2003, and the Faroe Islands gained full membership of the Committee in 2005. The Nordic countries’ EU membership or participation in the EEA co-operation en- tails an obligation to report social protection data to the EU statistical office (EURO- STAT). As a result, NOSOSCO has decided to adopt the specifications and definitions used in EUROSTAT’s ESSPROS framework. This report contains the most recent available data as of autumn 2017, i.e. data from 2016 where possible, or otherwise from 2015. In respect of legislation and bene- fit rates, reference points to current legislation and rates applying in 2016. To assist the Committee Secretariat in its preparation of the report, NOSOSCO set up an editorial group. In addition, a working group contributed calculations regarding life situations and income distribution. See nowbase.org for an overview of NOSOSCO’s members and working groups. 5 6 Changes in the Nordic social policies in 2014 and 2015 Contents Preface ............................................................................................. 5 Purpose and structure of this book ........................................................... 12 Short introduction to concepts used in this book ........................................... 13 Data sources ....................................................................................... 14 Chapter 1 Organisation of Nordic social policy ......................................................... 15 The Nordic welfare model ...................................................................... 16 Organisation of Nordic social policy .......................................................... 18 Chapter 2 Population and income distribution ......................................................... 27 Population ........................................................................................ 28 Early retirement from the labour market ................................................... 32 Income distribution ............................................................................. 37 Pensioners’ incomes compared with other households ................................... 38 Risk of poverty ................................................................................... 39 Chapter 3 Families and children .......................................................................... 45 Cash benefits to families and children ....................................................... 47 Daily cash benefits at childbirth and adoption ............................................. 47 Adoption allowances ........................................................................... 58 Cash benefits for parental childcare ......................................................... 60 Looking after children who are ill ............................................................ 62 Child maintenance and advances payment of on child maintenance allowance ..... 64 Other social benefits ........................................................................... 66 Contents Services for families and children ............................................................ 66 Day-care institutions and family day-care ................................................... 67 Preventive measures ............................................................................ 73 Expenditure on and financing of benefits to families and children .................... 77 Chapter 4 Unemployment ................................................................................... 83 Cash benefits in the event of unemployment .............................................. 87 Job training and activation .................................................................. 102 Service benefits in the event of unemployment .......................................... 106 Employment services .......................................................................... 106 Expenditure on and financing of unemployment benefits ............................... 107 Chapter 5 Sickness and health ........................................................................... 111 Paid absence due to sickness ................................................................ 111 Services .......................................................................................... 127 Primary health care ........................................................................... 128 Specialised health care ....................................................................... 128 Dental care ..................................................................................... 129 Expenditure on and financing of benefits in connection with sickness and health .. 129 Chapter 6 Old Age, Disability and Survivors ........................................................... 139 The structure of this chapter ................................................................ 139 6.1 Introduction ............................................................................... 140 Number of pension recipients ............................................................... 140 6.2 Old age ..................................................................................... 146 Old age pension structures and income-adjustment ...................................... 146 Qualifying age for old-age pensions ......................................................... 149 Basic pension/guaranteed minimum pension to elderly people ........................ 151 8 Contents Number of old-age pension recipients ...................................................... 156 Special and partial old-age pensions ....................................................... 166 Services to elderly people ................................................................... 169 Expenditure on and financing of benefits to elderly people ............................ 173 6.3 Disability.................................................................................... 177 Disability pension structures and income adjustment .................................... 177 Disability pension depending on health ..................................................... 179 Rehabilitation benefits ....................................................................... 193 Care allowance for disabled people ........................................................ 196 Service to people with disabilities ........................................................... 196 Expenditure on and financing of benefits to disabled people ........................... 203 6.4 Survivors .................................................................................... 207 Pensions to widows and widowers ........................................................... 207 Child pension ................................................................................... 209 Expenditure on and financing of benefits to survivors ................................... 211 Chapter 7 Housing benefits .............................................................................. 215 Housing benefits to families ................................................................ 216 Housing benefits to pensioners .............................................................. 219 Expenditure on and financing of housing benefit ......................................... 221 9 Contents Chapter 8 Other social benefits .......................................................................... 225 Cash benefits ................................................................................... 226 Financial social assistance ................................................................... 226 Special circumstances in the various countries ........................................... 229 Equivalent disposable income and compensation rate when drawing financial social assistance .................................................................... 231 Assistance to refugees in the Nordic countries ............................................ 239 Services .......................................................................................... 241 Treatment of alcohol and drug abuse ...................................................... 242 Expenditure
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