HS: Kela data reveal jump in decisions to cut social assistance

RECENT REVISIONS to the rules for granting social assistance toward housing costs have already had a significant impact, reveal data compiled for Helsingin Sanomat by the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela).

Helsingin Sanomat on Wednesday reported that scores of social assistance recipients have been instructed to find more affordable housing on grounds that their housing costs exceed the municipality-specific limit for reasonable housing costs. The assistance, it added, has been slashed for thousands of recipients who have refused to comply with the instructions.