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Migration and Home Affairs

access to social welfare

Definition(s)

  1. In the general migration context, conditions and requirements governing access to social protection and the scope of social security and social assistance for migrants and refugees legally residing in a host country.
  2. In the EU migration context, conditions and requirements governing access to social protection and the scope of social security and social assistance for third-country nationals (legally residing migrants, beneficiaries of international protection, persons enjoying temporary protection and applicants for international protection in EU Member States as defined by national law.

Source(s)

  1. Derived by EMN from Art. 11(d) of Council Directive 2003/109/EC (Long Term Residents Directive)
  2. Derived by EMN from Art. 11(d) of Council Directive 2003/109/EC (Long Term Residents Directive) and Art.29 of Directive 2011/95/EU (Recast Qualification Directive).

Translations

  • BG: достъп до социални грижи
  • CS: přístup k sociálnímu zabezpečení
  • DE: Zugang zur Sozialhilfe / Zugang zu Sozialleistungen
  • EL: πρόσβαση σε κοινωνική πρόνοια
  • EN: access to social welfare
  • ES: acceso a protección social
  • ET: juurdepääs sotsiaalhoolekandele
  • FI: oikeus sosiaalihuoltoon
  • FR: accès à l’aide sociale
  • GA: rochtain ar leas sóisialta
  • HR: pristup socijalnoj skrbi
  • HU: szociális ellátáshoz való hozzáférés
  • IT: accesso al welfare
  • LT: galimybė naudotis socialinės gerovės sistema
  • LV: sociālās labklājības pieejamība
  • MT: N/A
  • NL: toegang tot sociale voorzieningen (BE) / toegang tot het sociale zekerheidsstelsel (NL)
  • PL: dostęp do opieki społecznej
  • PT: Acesso à proteção social
  • RO: acces la asistența socială
  • SK: prístup k sociálnemu zabezpečeniu
  • SL: dostop do socialne zaščite
  • SV: tillgång till sociala förmåner
  • NO: tilgang til sosiale velferdstjenester
  • KA: სოციალური დაცვის ხელმისაწვდომობა
  • UK: доступ до соціального забезпечення
  • HY: սոցիալական ապահովության հասանելիություն

Broader Term

content of international protection

Related Term(s)

Narrower Term

social security

Note(s)

  1. The terms social protection, social security and social assistance are not defined by EU law and are often understood similarly. However, social protection is generally considered as an overarching concept encompassing 'all public and private initiatives that provide income or consumption transfers to the poor, protect the vulnerable against livelihood risks, and enhance the social status and rights of the marginalised with the overall objective of reducing the economic and social vulnerability of poor, vulnerable and marginalised groups', see IATE entry of social protection.
  2. Social security and social assistances are narrower concepts. IATE defines social security as a 'system of pensions and benefits provided through the welfare system, designed to give some kind of security against exigencies such as unemployment, invalidity, and old age', see IATE entry of social security. Social assistance is defined in IATE as 'range of benefits and services provided to the population at large, or segments of the population, under schemes funded by general government which are commonly based on a test of resources and do not require direct contributions by, or on behalf of, potential beneficiaries.It should not be confused with social security or social insurance which are based on contributions.
  3. The Geneva Refugee Convention and Protocol ensures that recognised refugees are entitled to benefit from the national social welfare schemes enjoyed by nationals. Refugees are gradually awarded access to social security benefits, taking into account the duration of their residence and their integration into the host society.
  4. In the EU the level of social benefits and rights depends on the legal status of third-country nationals.
  5. Art.11(1d) of Council Directive 2003/109/EC (Long Term Resident Directive) and Art. 29 of Directive 2011/95/EU (Recast Qualification Directive) guarantee that long-term residents and beneficiaries of international protection enjoy equal treatment with nationals as regards social protection, social security and social assistance as defined by national law. EU Member States may limit social assistance granted to beneficiaries of subsidiary protection status to core benefits which will then be provided at the same level and under the same eligibility conditions as nationals.
  6. For more information see: EMN Inform: Social benefits and rights for beneficiaries of international protection, 2018.