The Socialist Party (Sósíalistaflokkurinn)'s proposal on free services for low-income people with children

The City Council (Borgarstjórn) agrees not to charge for preschool attendance, primary school meals, and city-run after-school activities for those with incomes below the minimum wage. The minimum income for full-time employment is currently 351,000 Icelandic krónur per month. While the incomes of disabled individuals, people receiving financial assistance, and other low-income groups are so low, Reykjavík City agrees that charges will not be levied for the services it provides to their children. It has already been agreed to abolish charges for every child who is legally domiciled with and supported by a parent receiving financial assistance for subsistence. These are service payments aimed at ensuring children of financial assistance recipients have access to certain city services. That proposal originated from the work of a steering group that addressed measures against extreme poverty among children and their families. Poverty and deprivation are widespread in society, and what Reykjavík City can do to combat this is to abolish charges for low-income families. It is proposed that the Department of Finance and Risk Management (fjármála- og áhættustýringarsviði) be tasked with implementing the content of the proposal.Children have no income, and charges should not be levied for services provided to them. Furthermore, they should not be charged for participation in the city's social activities. All city services for children should be based on the principle that they are not discriminated against based on the financial status of their parents or guardians. Previous proposals by the Socialist Party aimed at providing free services in schools and after-school activities have not been successful. It is proposed here that the lowest-income groups in society be considered, and that it begin by ensuring that children from households where parents or guardians have incomes lower than the minimum wage can receive primary school meals, attend preschool, and participate in after-school activities free of charge.Children of single parents and disabled individuals are at high risk of experiencing financial hardship. This is discussed in a report that Kolbeinn H. Stefánsson prepared for the Welfare Watch (Velferðarvaktin) and is titledLiving Standards and Child Poverty in Iceland 2004-2016. The report also discusses ways to reduce child poverty, and free school meals for low-income families and increased subsidies for leisure activities are mentioned as proposals.It was recently agreed to abolish charges for every child who is legally domiciled with and supported by a parent receiving financial assistance for subsistence. The following was added to Reykjavík City's rules on financial assistance to cover what is in question: „In addition to the basic amount, special financial assistance shall be paid each month for every child who is legally domiciled with and supported by a parent receiving financial assistance for subsistence according to these rules. The assistance shall cover the cost of children's attendance at preschool for up to eight hours and children's attendance at after-school centers five days a week, in addition to covering the cost of school meals and afternoon snacks. These are service payments made to Reykjavík City's Department of Education and Leisure (skóla- og frístundasviðs Reykjavíkurborgar).“It is proposed here that Reykjavík City's services extend to more families with children, thereby ensuring that they are free of charge for children from households where incomes are scarce. This includes, for example, children of students, those who are unemployed, and disabled individuals. This aims to prevent children's financial worries from accompanying them, at least throughout the entire day within school and after-school activities.