Subsistence Benefit
Session: 15th Estonian Parliament, 5th sitting, information briefing
Date: 2025-01-29 14:59
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 10
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 10m
AI Summaries: 10/10 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Member of the Riigikogu Vladimir Arhipov posed a question to the Minister of Social Protection Signe Riisalo regarding the low amount of the subsistence support, which is 200 euros. Arhipov drew attention to the fact that, in conditions of rising taxes and excise duties, people with low incomes suffer the most, and asked how a family of three should manage with 600 euros, which must cover food, clothing, and shoes.
Minister Riisalo replied that the number of recipients of subsistence support has stabilized and fallen to 15,500 households after the addition of Ukrainian war refugees in 2022 (when it reached over 25,000 households). She emphasized that the support is intended to alleviate extreme hardship and is received for an average of a short period (5–6 months). Riisalo acknowledged that the subsistence support limit needs constant review and that the methodology for calculating the minimum subsistence level is outdated. A study to develop a new methodology has been commissioned and its results should be ready by the spring of 2026. The Minister considered indexing the support to be reasonable in order to provide reassurance to low-income households, but this decision has been postponed until the new minimum subsistence level input is received. In addition, a bill is planned to be brought to the Riigikogu at the end of this year, which deals with the consideration of communication costs and the raising of the age limit for children in calculating the support.
In a follow-up question, Siim Pohlak inquired about the control mechanisms for recipients of temporary protection to ensure their actual residence in Estonia. The Minister confirmed that applying for subsistence support in the local government requires the submission of documents proving residence (including a lease agreement), which ensures that the support recipients actually live in Estonia. She added that the number of support recipients among Ukrainian war refugees has decreased year after year, as they are very active in employment.
Decisions Made 1
Decisions were not made.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Today's fifth question concerns the subsistence allowance and is presented by Riigikogu member Vladimir Arhipov to the Minister of Social Protection Signe Riisalo.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The speech highlighted that the amount of the subsistence benefit is very low, and with rising taxes and excise duties, low incomes may suffer, and it asked how this support relates to the average cost of a food basket and how a three-member family should make ends meet if the family has only 600 euros left.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
According to Riisalo, the number of recipients of the subsistence allowance rose significantly in 2022 due to Ukrainian war refugees and has stabilized in 2023–2024 at around 15,500 households (two-thirds are Estonian permanent residents and one-third are people from Ukraine), and in the near future there are plans for amendments to the law that would help people cope better: to expand Internet access and raise the age limit for children to 19 years, as well as to harmonize local governments’ housing-cost caps and to make further necessary improvements.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair gives Vladimir Arhipov the floor and asks him to pose a clarifying question.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
They ask whether it's right that senior government officials receive a pay raise, but the amount of the subsistence allowance remains shamefully above 200 euros.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo said that the methodology for the subsistence threshold and the minimum living standard is outdated and needs updating, and we are considering the possibility of indexing, but this isn't included in this year's draft, and decisions must be made on the basis of input that will be ready next spring.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanked and invited Siim Pohlak to present an additional question.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak asked about temporary-protection recipients, referring to the fact that a large portion of the funds goes to helping refugees, whether there is a mechanism to ensure that temporary-protection recipients live in Estonia and do not reside elsewhere in Finland or Sweden to receive benefits, and asked for clarification of the control mechanism.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo stated that the check for extending the temporary protection status has been organized, and that cooperation with municipalities and the Social Insurance Board enables identifying the people actually residing in Estonia and recipients of the subsistence allowance, and that Ukrainian war refugees are at the forefront of employment (over 50% of the working-age population), although some have additional costs due to language learning and a large family, which decrease over the years, and that in 2023–2024 the number of recipients of the subsistence allowance declined by 4,000 households.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks and announces that today's consideration of the fifth question ends.