About Livelihood support

Transcription

1 About Livelihood support Utg 1701

2 Who can get livelihood support? The Social Services Act Chap. 4 1 reads as follows; Anyone who cannot meet their needs or get them met in any other way is entitled to get assistance from the social welfare committee for their livelihood (livelihood support) and for their way of life in general. All who more than temporarily live in the municipality and who cannot support themselves otherwise are entitled to assistance in the form of livelihood support, provided that they contribute to their livelihood according to their ability. As a rule, livelihood support is not paid to students, conscripts or self-employed. Livelihood support is means-tested, and before that an entitlement to livelihood support exists, all other means of support must be tested. How do I apply for livelihood support? Since livelihood support and assistance in general is means-tested, an investigation of your assistance needs must be made by a social worker. The study mapps the background for your assistance needs. This is done on a personal visit at the social welfare office. During the visit, you must bring all the documents that are required to prove your information (see checklist). By signing the application form, you agree that your information may be checked. This is a prerequisite for the assessment of your support needs. Livelihood support is usually granted for one month. After that a new application must be made. Utg

3 What shall livelihood support suffice for? Livelihood support must guarantee you a reasonable standard of living. Livelihood support is calculated according to a NATIONAL NORM for the whole kingdom. This one is based on the consumer agency's calculations and must cover the costs of food, clothes / shoes, leisure / play, hygiene supplies, daily newspaper, TV license, telephone and Internet. Livelihood support may also include the costs of: - reasonable accommodation - household electricity - home insurance - childcare - commuting - medical / pharmaceutical - membership in a trade union or in an unemployment fund The actual costs are reimbursed by showing a receipt. Assistance in addition to livelihood support can in some cases be paid after a special review. Utg

4 NATIONAL NORM FOR 2017 Personal costs Food All meals Clothes/ Shoes Under Children and adolescents Adults single Cohabitant Leisure/play Hygien Child and youth Insurance Total Shared expenses 1 pers 2 pers 3 pers 4 pers 5 pers 6 pers 7 pers Consumables Daily newspaper TV,telephone Total Utg

5 How is livelihood support calculated? All own incomes are deducted from the assistance amount. Examples of these are: salaries, sickness benefit, housing benefit, child benefit, maintenance support or unemployment benefits. For livelihood support to be issued, the need cannot be met in other ways, for example by selling your car, stocks, boat or other assets. Any change in your situation during the time that you are receiving livelihood support must be communicated to the social services. If you provide incomplete or incorrect information, you may be liable to repay and possibly be prosecuted for fraud. How is the financial assistance disbursed? The payment of assistance is done via the SUS connection to the bank account and is usually available two business days after that the decision is made. Can the paid assistance be recovered? Reimbursement of the assistance may be required when: - it has been paid as advances in favor of e.g. study support, unemployment benefits or maintenance - it has been paid to those who are involved in labor dispute - it has been paid to those who, because of circumstances that were beyond their control, were unable to dispose of their own earnings - the assistance has been provided under the terms of repayment That you by incorrect or incomplete information received livelihood support improperly or in an excessive amount Utg

6 What demands can the social services have? The one who is receiving livelihood support due to unemployment must be registered as a jobseeker at the employment agency and be an active job seeker on his or her own. The obligation to seek work also includes participation in the activities organized for the unemployed by the employment agency or social services, such as employment training, skills enhancement activities or work rehabilitative measures. The obligation may also involve the participation in learning the Swedish language and other special introductory programs. If you are unable to work due to illness you must prove that by a current medical certificate. Can I get assistance for anything else? Assistance in other forms can be granted after a special review. The possibility of getting assistance is not only about financial assistance. There may also be different support and treatment actions. Can I appeal a decision on livelihood support? If you want to appeal a decision, you should write to the Municipal Board. Take up in the letter which decision you are appealing, for example by specifying the decision s number or date. Also write about how you want the decision to be changed. The Municipal Board must have received your appeal within three weeks from the date you received the decision, otherwise the appeal is inadmissible. The Municipal Board sends the appeal to the Administrative Court for trial if the Board does not itself change the decision in the way you have requested. Utg

7 If I want to know more? The social workers have their telephone hours on weekdays between the hours 8:30 to 9:30. The staffs are bound to secrecy! Phone: If I need help to sort out my finances? You can get help with budgeting and debt advice via Hässleholm s municipaliy. It is free and you can turn there if you have problems with debt, if you feel that your finances are strained or if you just need advice. They can also help you to seek debt restructuring. Phone: or The Personal Data Act (PUL) The provided personal information will be registered in the municipality's data records. You have, according to the Personal Data Act, SFS 1998: 204, the right to once a year take part of the information contained in our records that concern you and also to request correction of this information. The request must be in writing. The manager of the personal information is the Municipal Board at Östra Göinge Municipality, Storgatan 4, Broby. Checklist when applying for livelihood support In order to make an assessment of the entitlement to livelihood support the documents shown below must be attached at the application. For the application for financial assistance to be processed, it must be complete. Note! You must be able to identify yourself with a valid identification document. Utg

8 Documents to be enclosed with the application: Leases and current rent receipt In case of accommodation in private property, a property attached appendix and the documents attesting the information must be enclosed Proof of expenditure (e.g. invoices, payment slips or receipts) Bank statements of all accounts three months back Financial account statement from the bank Tax return (can be requested from the Tax Agency even at 0- assessment and in the case of admission to the Enforcement Authority) Full disclosure of any assets (e.g. car, boat, motorcycle) Registration Certificate and the current action plan from the Employment Agency A list of pending jobs Possible medical certificates Utg