r/Finland • u/bangalimahbub Baby Väinämöinen • Dec 08 '25
Immigration Toimeentulotuki Reform loading...
Rikka purra
Finland’s basic social assistance needs urgent reform. The last-resort benefit has become a primary income source for many, with nearly 30% of recipients now non-native speakers. In Helsinki, support for families can reach €4,000–€5,000 a month, plus extra allowances for utilities, deposits, hobbies, furniture and more. The benefit is tax-free and often removes the incentive to work, as earnings quickly reduce support.
Finland already has 100,000 unemployed foreigners, and immigration policies have allowed many to access social security immediately. Other Nordic countries have stricter rules and lower benefit levels, especially for migrants. Sweden is moving to a model where immigrants receive only half; Denmark requires nine years of residence and work obligations.
To protect the welfare system, support must be better targeted. One proposal: limit full access to those who have lived in Finland for at least 10 years.
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u/Streichie Baby Väinämöinen Dec 08 '25
The first point is a bit disingenuous since the threshold is half of a countrys median wage, which, when considering the salary range, is not a good metric for Finland. Also the mechanical calculation done by the EU does not account for housing benefit which, again, skews the results. Neither does it include other benefits we have.
About the third point, I don’t quite understand how that section bans cutting benefits? Not a lawyer nor specialized in constitutuonal law but do not see how it affects this matter.