Conclusion of the policy group (málefnahópur) on welfare matters

The policy of the Socialist Party of Iceland in welfare matters is:

That a welfare society be operated in this country, where systematic work is done towards a fair distribution of resources and the eradication of poverty.

That everyone is guaranteed access to the welfare system by law, regardless of ability to pay, independent of gender, origin, religion, disability, age, or sexual orientation.

That welfare services are not operated for profit.

That users participate in the management of welfare matters, have the right to elect representatives and sit on committees and boards established by the public sector.

That no one shall be without means of support, and the Icelandic state shall ensure a secure livelihood for pensioners, the elderly, the unemployed, and others who need it.

That the state as well as larger municipalities set forth subsistence criteria that take into account wage development, rent, and other cost fluctuations.

That easy access to all rights within the welfare system is ensured through a service representative who provides assistance, as well as a welfare ombudsman (umboðsmaður velferðarmála) to whom one can turn if an individual's rights are violated.

That people retain their rights within the welfare system despite moving between municipalities or to other countries for temporary stays.

That social resources are independent of residence, and people are therefore not discriminated against between municipalities.

That children and families with children enjoy special protection, and that all children are always on an equal footing economically.

That services for chronically ill children and their rights do not cease at the age of majority.

That everyone is guaranteed suitable housing, in accordance with the socialists' housing policy.

That the disability pension system be strengthened, but work capacity assessment (starfsgetumat) be rejected in accordance with the will of ÖBÍ, and króna-for-króna reductions (krónu-á-móti-krónu-skerðingar) be stopped.

That the elderly are guaranteed appropriate services, whether it concerns home care or services in nursing or medical institutions, or other social services.

That special attention is paid to the welfare of various vulnerable and marginalized groups.

That addiction be decriminalized and treated as a health issue.

Further reading:

In Iceland, welfare is statutory and shall be accessible to all without conditions, regardless of gender, origin, age, religion, disability, or sexual orientation, including those who arrive here without means. The welfare system is about creating the conditions necessary for people to feel secure and well, ensuring that everyone's basic needs are met so that people can live with dignity and enjoy general human rights in accordance with the provisions of Icelandic law and international obligations.

Cooperation between the state and municipalities shall be ensured so that basic welfare services are always reliable. It shall also be statutory for municipalities to provide services in welfare matters, whether it concerns housing or other basic services. Furthermore, the state as well as municipalities shall calculate and publish realistic consumption benchmarks that public institutions and others can use in their calculations.

Public institutions serving the general public shall not be privatized, and the state shall not support profit-driven welfare services. Furthermore, strict laws shall apply regarding which ownership and operating forms are permitted in such services, and oversight shall be maintained.

Users shall have active and valid participation in the governance of the welfare system through user interest groups. The demands and resolutions of such groups shall be listened to, and the needs and wishes of children shall also be heard, and in the case of child protection, people who had experience with the system in childhood shall also be listened to.

The welfare system shall promote good mental and physical health and support those who lose skills and subsistence income. The system shall benefit users without complications. Furthermore, better continuity in its policy-making shall be ensured, and human dignity and welfare in Icelandic society shall be emphasized.

The state shall provide residents of each municipality with a welfare service representative for welfare matters who proactively provides information about people's rights, thereby ensuring information flow when assistance is needed. People should not have to wait in uncertainty regarding their livelihood and prove to institutions whose responsibility it is to pay; the municipality's, the state's, the union's, or others'. Thus, it is important that welfare system employees do not create more insecurity for the individual than they already face when necessity calls. Furthermore, the state shall appoint a welfare ombudsman to safeguard people's legal certainty in connection with administrative procedures, appeal routes, and more. To ensure impartiality in cases, such an ombudsman's position shall be funded by the state and not a municipality, so that local interests do not dictate the course.

It shall be ensured that rights are respected and that residents of different municipalities are on an equal footing when it comes to services and welfare. Thus, cooperation between the state and municipalities shall be strengthened with the aim that the service level of municipal social services is high and that they cannot shirk responsibility when it comes to welfare.

It shall be ensured that people do not lose their rights when moving, whether between municipalities or temporarily abroad. Chronically ill children shall not lose rights and services at the age of majority, and the needs of families with children shall be specifically met so that all children are on an equal footing. The rights of disabled children with dual residency shall be specifically ensured. Furthermore, all public resources for children, such as schools and healthcare services, shall always be free of charge.

The idea of work capacity assessment instead of disability assessment shall be abandoned, but rehabilitation and opportunities for employment participation for disability pensioners shall be strengthened, and prejudice against disability in the labor market shall be combated. Furthermore, the króna-for-króna reduction shall be abolished.

It is important that the issues of the elderly are addressed firmly and that systematic work is done to eradicate poverty and waiting lists for adequate resources. Furthermore, people's personal and social networks shall be strengthened, and loneliness shall be combated. This shall be done, among other things, through innovations in the design of co-housing for the elderly. Furthermore, neighborhood-based social services shall be strengthened, and municipalities as well as neighborhood centers shall combat isolation and loneliness through social resources and activities that strengthen people's networks.

Pensioners, the unemployed, and others who rely on the welfare system shall always be able to access rehabilitation and activities free of charge to enhance their quality of life. Furthermore, prejudice against those who need to receive social assistance or subsistence shall be systematically combated.

Addiction shall be decriminalized, but the problem created by drug use shall be addressed specifically within healthcare services and social services, and addiction treatment resources shall be greatly strengthened. Special attention shall be paid to prevention, and it shall be based on evidence-based knowledge of the risk factors that lead to the onset of drug use.