– If the government had done enough, “Zelda” would not have had the problems she has today, Seher Aydar states. The Storting representative for Rødt has become involved in the case of “Zelda”, the 35-year-old disabled person, the mother of four from Drammen who told of major financial difficulties as a result of pandemics, expensive electricity and now, a marked increase in food prices. – I have to choose between food and clothes. Sometimes I have eaten only one slice of bread in two days, a crying “Zelda” told news. She is by no means alone in making ends meet. The queue of people queuing for food has grown recently. This is confirmed by the Salvation Army, the Church’s City Mission and the Poor House, which express concern about the literally growing problem. – We can not handle everyone who comes now, said Lisbeth Hvalby at Fattighuset in Oslo. Lisbeth Hvalby in the Poor House Photo: Private The Poor House is usually closed for a few weeks in the summer. – But with the progress that is now, we do not have the heart to close, says Hvalby. – Get less money for each month Inflation is rising, food prices are rising, electricity prices are still high. In short, things are expensive. And they are getting more expensive. – When we can not ensure that everyone has food on the table and a roof over their heads, what kind of country have we become then? asks Aydar rhetorically. She calls for measures from the government to prevent people on social security from falling even further behind. Seher Aydar, parliamentary representative for Rødt. Photo: Mathias Moene Rød / news – When the prices of food, electricity and living increase so much, it means that, for example, child benefit becomes less valuable. If the rates in NAV are not price-adjusted, then in reality it means that people get less money for each passing month. Aydar refers to “Zelda” and believes this shows that Forskjells-Norge is more than just numbers and statistics. – It is the feeling of shame that a mother of small children feels when she has to ask for help to have food on the table. And that’s all the worries they have about spending money on food, clothes or dental visits. And not least, it is the sore lump in the stomach that the children have to be left with. According to Statistics Norway, 115,000 children live in households with persistent low incomes in Norway. Has adjusted up from July The indicative rates for social assistance are normally adjusted at the turn of the year. This is based on the estimated consumer price index for the coming year. But inflation this year has been much higher than expected. Maria Schumacher Walberg, State Secretary in the Ministry of Labor and Social Inclusion. Photo: Ministry of Labor and Social Inclusion – We agreed with SV to further adjust the price rates for social assistance from 1 July. The adjustment is in line with the updated estimate for growth in the consumer price index for 2022, says State Secretary Maria Schumacher Walberg. Walberg also emphasizes that the states for social assistance should only be indicative, and that each NAV office has both the right and the duty to make individual and discretionary assessments in each individual case.
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