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Abstract
I denne analysen undersøker vi en lovendring i sosialhjelpsloven i 2022 som innebærer at barnetrygden ikke skal regnes med når Nav vurderer behov for sosialhjelp. Før lovendringen var det noen kommuner som allerede praktiserte dette, men nå må alle kommuner følge denne loven. I denne artikkelen forsøker vi undersøke hvordan lovendringen påvirket sosialhjelpsytelsen til barnefamilier. Vi benytter først praksisvariasjonen mellom kommunene til å undersøke om lovendringen har påvirket ytelsesnivået til barnefamilier som mottar økonomisk sosialhjelp. Vi finner da at kommuner som allerede fulgte regelen før lovendringen, også har økt utbetalingene til barnefamilier. Med denne metoden finner vi ingen effekt av lovendringen. Når vi kun ser på kommuner som selv valgte å endre praksis i forkant av lovendringen, finner vi derimot en betydelig økning i utbetalinger til barnefamiliene. Når vi deretter sammenligner barnefamilier med sosialhjelpsmottakere uten barn, finner vi en større økning i sosialhjelpen til barnefamiliene etter lovendringen. Det indikerer at lovendringen har påvirket alle kommuner, ikke bare de som rapporterer at de endret praksis ved lovendringen. Ytelsen økte med 1 200 kr mer i måneden for barnefamilier enn for kontrollgruppen, justert for prisvekst. Relativt sett innebærer det at barnefamilier fikk ni prosent mer i sosialhjelp enn de uten barn etter lovendringen. Selv om økningen i sosialhjelpen er betydelig, er den klart mindre enn en barnetrygd per barn. Det kan være flere grunner til denne økningen. En forklaring kan være at regjeringen bevilget mer penger til kommunene for å dekke kostnadene ved lovendringen, og at det var den økte bevilgningen mer enn endringen i lovteksten som ga økt sosialhjelp til barnefamilier. Økningen kan også skyldes andre forhold som inntraff på omtrent samme tid, som sterk prisvekst og økt oppmerksomhet om barneperspektivet i Nav. Økningen i sosialhjelpsytelsen til barnefamilier har skjedd samtidig med en økning i barnetrygden. Totalt sett mottar barnefamiliene nå 12 prosent mer i barnetrygd og sosialhjelp i 2023 enn i 2019, justert for prisvekst. Dette har trolig bedret økonomien til disse barnefamiliene.
In this analysis, we examine a legislative change in the Social Assistance Act, which means that child benefits should not be considered when Nav (Norwegian welfare authority) assesses the need for social assistance. Before this change, some municipalities already practiced this, but with the new law, all municipalities must comply. In this article, we attempt to investigate how the legislative change has affected social assistance benefits for families with children. We use the variation between municipalities to investigate whether the legislative change has affected the affected the benefit levels for families with children receiving economic social assistance. Our findings show that the legislative change has not had any significant effects on the level of support using this method. We see that municipalities that already practiced this rule before the legislative change have increased payments to families with children. Additionally, we find that in the municipalities that chose to change their practice before the legislative change, there is a significant increase in payments to families with children. When we compare payments to families with children with recipients without children, we find a greater increase in payments to families with children. This suggests that the legislative change has had an effect, but that this effect is not limited to municipalities that changed their practice with the law. Benefits increased by NOK 1,200 more per month for families with children than for the control group, adjusted for price growth. In relative terms families with children received nine percent more in social assistance than those without children after the legislative change. There may be several reasons for this increase. One explanation could be that the government allocated more money to all municipalities to cover increased expenses following the legislative change, and that it was the increased allocation rather than the change in the law that led to increased social assistance for families with children. The increase may also be due to other factors occurring at the same time, such as strong price growth and increased attention to the child perspective in Nav. Although the increase in social assistance payments is significant, it is not as large as the removal of the full deduction for child benefits would suggest. The increase in social assistance has occurred simultaneously with an increase in child benefits. Overall, families with children now receive 12 percent more in child benefits and social assistance in 2023 than in 2019, adjusted for price growth. This has likely improved the financial situation of the group.
In this analysis, we examine a legislative change in the Social Assistance Act, which means that child benefits should not be considered when Nav (Norwegian welfare authority) assesses the need for social assistance. Before this change, some municipalities already practiced this, but with the new law, all municipalities must comply. In this article, we attempt to investigate how the legislative change has affected social assistance benefits for families with children. We use the variation between municipalities to investigate whether the legislative change has affected the affected the benefit levels for families with children receiving economic social assistance. Our findings show that the legislative change has not had any significant effects on the level of support using this method. We see that municipalities that already practiced this rule before the legislative change have increased payments to families with children. Additionally, we find that in the municipalities that chose to change their practice before the legislative change, there is a significant increase in payments to families with children. When we compare payments to families with children with recipients without children, we find a greater increase in payments to families with children. This suggests that the legislative change has had an effect, but that this effect is not limited to municipalities that changed their practice with the law. Benefits increased by NOK 1,200 more per month for families with children than for the control group, adjusted for price growth. In relative terms families with children received nine percent more in social assistance than those without children after the legislative change. There may be several reasons for this increase. One explanation could be that the government allocated more money to all municipalities to cover increased expenses following the legislative change, and that it was the increased allocation rather than the change in the law that led to increased social assistance for families with children. The increase may also be due to other factors occurring at the same time, such as strong price growth and increased attention to the child perspective in Nav. Although the increase in social assistance payments is significant, it is not as large as the removal of the full deduction for child benefits would suggest. The increase in social assistance has occurred simultaneously with an increase in child benefits. Overall, families with children now receive 12 percent more in child benefits and social assistance in 2023 than in 2019, adjusted for price growth. This has likely improved the financial situation of the group.