Welfare Affairs

Policy accepted May 19, 2019

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

That welfare services are not operated for profit.

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

To ensure easy access to all rights in the welfare system through a service representative who provides assistance, as well as a welfare ombudsman who can be contacted if an individual's rights are violated.

That social services are independent of residence and people are therefore not discriminated against across municipalities.

To ensure that services for chronically ill children and their rights are not interrupted at the age of majority.

That the disability pension system be strengthened, but work capacity assessment rejected in accordance with the will of ÖBÍ, and króna-for-króna reductions stopped.

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

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

That the state and larger municipalities establish living standards that take into account wage development, rent, and other cost fluctuations.

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

That children and families with children enjoy special protection and that all children always have equal economic opportunities.

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

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

That addiction be decriminalized and treated as a health problem.

Additional content

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 safe 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 welfare services, whether it concerns housing or other basic services. Furthermore, the state and municipalities shall calculate and publish realistic consumption benchmarks that public institutions and others can use in their calculations.

Public institutions providing services to the general public shall not be privatized, and the state shall not support profit-driven welfare services. Furthermore, strict laws shall apply to what ownership and operational forms are permitted in such services, and supervision 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 heard, 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 heard.

The welfare system shall promote good mental and physical health and support those who lose their ability to work and their livelihood. 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 who proactively provides information about people's rights and thus ensures information flow when assistance is needed. People should not have to wait in uncertainty regarding their livelihood and prove to institutions who is responsible for payment; the municipality, the state, the trade union, or others. Thus, it is important that welfare system employees do not create more insecurity for the individual than they already face when in need. 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 neutrality in cases, such an ombudsman position shall be funded by the state and not by a municipality, so that local interests do not dictate the outcome.

It shall be ensured that rights are respected and that residents of different municipalities are treated equally 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. Furthermore, the disparity in conditions for people living in rural areas shall be eliminated when it comes to the cost of accessing state-provided services.

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 upon reaching the age of majority, and the needs of families with children shall be specifically met so that all children are treated equally. The rights of disabled children with dual residency shall be specifically ensured. Furthermore, all public provisions 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, and 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 senior citizens are addressed firmly and that systematic work is done to eliminate poverty and waiting lists for adequate solutions. 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 senior citizens. Furthermore, neighborhood-based social services shall be strengthened, and municipalities as well as community centers shall combat isolation and loneliness through social provisions and activities that strengthen people's networks.

Pensioners, 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 livelihood support shall be systematically combated.

Addiction shall be decriminalized, but the problems created by drug use shall be addressed, especially within healthcare 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.