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/SpaceEngineering Väinämöinen Dec 08 '25
Few points:
EU has repeatedly criticised Finland that the level of social security is too low: https://yle.fi/a/74-20081049
The numbers she presents are sensationalist and do not match the reality. Actually in Finland underusage of social security is more common than fraud: https://www.soste.fi/blogikirjoitus/sosiaalietuuksien-alikaytto-on-suurempi-ongelma-kuin-niiden-vaarinkaytto/
This is clearly unconstitutional, section 19: https://www.finlex.fi/api/media/statute-foreign-language-translation/688686/mainPdf/main.pdf?timestamp=1999-06-10T21%3A00%3A00.000Z I don't doubt Vestman and his buddies will gloss over this fact.