Social assistance, 2005

As expected, the number of recipients on social assistance dropped in 2005. 128 964 social assistance recipients is a 2.5 per cent drop from 2004. The 2005 figures are similar to figures from 2002, the previous comparable year. For the last two years it has been difficult to separate those receiving benefits given to recently arrived refugees and immigrants from those who receive economic social assistance.

Although the number of social assistance recipients fell, their share of the population is approximately the same as in the last years, at 3 per cent. Many recipients of social assistance have children and a spouse. If these are included, approximately 223 000 persons received social assistance for a shorter or longer period in 2005, 5 per cent of the population.

The age pattern among social assistance recipients has not changed much in the past years, and the largest group of recipients is aged 30-39 years. However, the largest group as a proportion of the population is the 20-24 age-group. 8 per cent in this age-group received economic social assistance in 2005.

The social assistance recipients in 2005 received NOK 4.8 billion in total, or almost NOK 7 000 on average per person per month. The average payment per person per year was NOK 37 600 and the average recipient was on benefit for five months - approximately the same level as in previous years.

Social services staff

At the end of 2005, there were 5 345 jobs in the social services. This figure includes positions related to the traditional social services tasks such as counseling, consultations, preventive work and work related to substance abusers.

If we include positions related to job creation programs, the figure increases to 6 081. There are large differences between the counties, but the average ratio of employees per 1 000 adults (aged 18 and above) is 1.5 full-time equivalents per 1 000 adults in 2005.

Tables:

• Table 1 Number of cases on social assistance, by age, county and size of municipality. 1987-2005
• Table 2 Expenditure on social assistance, by nature of assistance, county and size of municipality. 1987-2005. 2005-kroner
• Table 3 Average payments of social assistance per month on assistance. Figures of duration of benefit and family cycle phase. 2005. NOK
• Table 4 Recipients of social assistance by duration of benefit and family cycle phase. 2005
• Table 5 Recipients of social assistance by number of municipalities from which they have received payments and age. 2005
• Table 6 Recipients of social assistance by main source of income and family cycle phase. 2005
• Table 7 Recipients of social assistance by labour force status and family cycle phase. 2005
• Table 8 Recipients of social assistance by type of allowance and family cycle phase. 2005
• Table 9 Recipients of social assistance with or without immigrant background by age. 2005