1. Social assistance in social security systems
- EU countries perspective
National Institute of Social Development (NISD) CASS
Marzena Breza, PhD, EU Resident Expert,
EU-China Social Protection Reform Project
Beijing, 12 June 2019

2. Introduction on social assistance in the social protection EU approach
Content
Introduction on social assistance in the social protection
EU approach
Lessons learned for Chinese social assistance system
Conclusions

3. Social protection in the EU MS
Relative high spending on social protection
Differences between countries (north – Scandinavian countries, east-central, south, and west Europe)
Different measures to support people in need
Family policy (including universal benefits)
Social policy towards disabled; unemployed, elderly
Getting more and more importance in reducing poverty

4. Life cycle perspective in social policy making

5. poverty rate higher U&R difference
EU poverty rate
High
poverty rate higher U&R difference

6. Social assistance vs. main challenges for social situation in Europe
Poverty rate – before and after social transfers (main impact of the pensions paid)
Income inequalities
Social transfers and their influence on household income
Generosity
Solidarity

7. Social protection benefits (EUROSTAT)

8. Social protection expenditure EU MS
2015 social protection in the EU – 28.3% of GDP

9. Social assistance
Last resort instrument of social policy in Europe (usually means tested)
Social assistance as an element of the broaden social protection system
Schemes for families i.a. children; elderly (pensions, case services, etc.); disabled (pensions, allowances and active labour measures); unemployed (benefits and active labour market policy measures).
Public spending

10. Chinese perspective

11. Who are the poor in China?
Three Nos
Elderly
Rural hukou citizens
Disabled
In Europe mostly unemployed (67%), young people – 31% (65+ 18%), migrants 39% (non EU)
Poverty related characteristics: gender, age, labour activity, education, country of birth, urbanization (U&R)

12. Introduction
From poverty reduction driven policy to more comprehensive scheme for vulnerable groups
From benefits (mainly cash benefits) approach to differentiated social assistance scheme
Social assistance allowances supplemented by social services scheme
Standards based social assistance implementation
Transparent access (including rural areas)

13. Social assistance in China - main challenges acknowledged (1)
Gaps
Overlapping
Duplications
Key issues – beneficiary level:
Social assistance accessibility (rural / urban / gender / migration background - Hukou based social assistance) including information policy
Needs assessment (initial assessment)
Targeted support vs. qualified staff (mainly social workers)
Policy design and implementation level
Social assistance data base and statistics
Social assistance inefficiency risks

14. Social assistance in China - main challenges acknowledged (2)
Key issues – governance and administration level:
Decision making and policy transmission from central to local level
Income testing and payment delivery (differences urban/rural and between provinces) – solid standards needed for all benefits provided
Coordination within complex institutional framework: public (different levels), non-profit, private;
Synergy - civil society organisations and local social assistance authorities targeting vulnerable groups;

15. Social assistance in China - main challenges acknowledged (3)
Monitoring and evaluation of the social assistance programs and their efficiency
IT support for more automated process (especially due to the staff shortages at all levels of social assistance implementation)
Fraud identification and prevention

16. EU general approach
Widespread understanding of vulnerability and risk of poverty (monetary poverty, material deprivation) at the policy design and implementation process
“Monetary poverty is the most widespread form of poverty, affecting 17.3 % of the EU population in  % are affected by severe material deprivation, while very low work intensity concerns 10.5 % of the population aged 0 to 59.” Eurostat

17. Client based & targeted approach:
EU approach (1)
Client based & targeted approach:
Separate schemes (possible to use jointly) for different venerable groups; Target groups are: families including single parent, elderly, disables, children, single person households, homeless, etc.
Providing support depending on the current vulnerability and its dynamic
Monitoring social assistance recipients and their dependants (risk of poverty inheritance)
Integrated approach social assistance and labour market policy measures – (working age poor supporting to reattached with the labour market)

18. Administration and governance level:
EU approach (2)
Administration and governance level:
Design and delivery of social benefits and services need an integrated and aligned approach across different government agencies/levels and service providers
Intra- and intersectoral cooperation
Non-take up issue strongly considered – identification of people in need by social assistance institutions
Regular monitoring and evaluation of the benefits and programs efficiency
Information sharing and publicity on social policy

19. Lessons learned for Chinese social assistance system (1)
Evidence based policy - policy design based on a regular monitoring and evolution of social assistance outcomes and forecasted needs
Investing in data base – to make disaggregated data available
Investing in social assistance program package based on the target groups to be supported
Capacity strengthening trough better coordination mechanism for social assistance all government levels and other stakeholders (non-public, non-profit, private)

20. Lessons learned for Chinese social assistance system (2)
Investing in social assistance human recourses (social workers) for different social assistance target groups/needs
Diversification of social assistance funding sources – governments (central/provincial/local), donors, civil society organisations, CSRs, including private sector funding
Adapting social assistance instruments to changing characteristics/profile of vulnerable groups as to ensure taking out of poverty

21. Key 1: Coordination & Standards
Conclusions (1)
Key 1: Coordination & Standards
Advocate for comprehensive social assistance law (like lastly adopted Charity Law) – clear role, responsibilities and accountability of all stakeholders involved
Transparency and standardization at the design and implementation level
Simplifying procedure – beneficiaries level
One-stop information shop / single window access point for new entrance and standing beneficiaries

22. Key 2: Complementarity between cash benefits and social services
Conclusions (2)
Key 2: Complementarity between cash benefits and social services
Social services delivery model/s & quality of services provided
Diversifying social assistance service scheme (based on the target groups needs) based on the socio-economic trends and ageing process – investing in care services (home and institution based)
Key 3: Generosity of the benefits schemes
Dibao standard in Beijing 1000 RMB per month
salary in Beijing xx000?

23. Why income support is so important?

24. Thank you for your attention Marzena.breza@eucsprp.org