The Norwegian Health Authority has investigated whether families with children who are entitled to social assistance get the money they need from Nav. The inspectorate found breaches of the law at 58 of the 68 Nav offices that were investigated. In other words, four out of five of the offices broke the law. In such cases, Nav must talk to the children, according to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Nav has not done that, states the Norwegian Health Authority. These findings are particularly serious at a time when the prices of food and electricity have risen sharply, according to inequality researcher Silje Skuland at the Consumer Research Institute SIFO at Oslomet. – It is clear that the price increase has been high for those with the lowest income, and perhaps especially for those on social benefits, such as social assistance, she says to news. “Seriously, Skuland believes that the findings clearly show the consequences for the children of delinquent debt. – It is clear that the fact that they have not been mapped, it most likely means that social assistance recipients have received less in benefits than they should have received, she says. The Norwegian Health Authority looks at the period 2022 to 2023. This was a period when many had trouble paying bills and the food queues grew. In Norway, almost 55,000 people had social assistance as their most important income last year, according to Statistics Norway (SSB). – Social assistance recipients are, after all, a group of people who receive the lowest benefits in this country. So it’s clear that if they don’t get what they need, and get their needs met, then it’s quite serious, explains Skuland. REACTS: Inequality researcher Silje Skuland takes a dark view of the findings from the Norwegian Health Authority. She thinks it is serious for the children involved. Photo: Eva Marie Bulai / news In the years 2013 to 2022, the price increase has also been higher for people with low incomes. This applies especially in recent years, according to Statistics Norway. – It has consequences for the children concerned, first and foremost. This involves mapping out one’s needs, what type of activities one is involved in, what one should be a part of, says the inequality researcher. The breach of the law has occurred even though there has been an increase in the number of people receiving social assistance in Norway. Last year, the increase was 16.4 per cent, compared with the previous year. At the same time, the sum of the payments has risen by almost 32 per cent. No improvement from previous inspection The Norwegian Health Authority also carried out such an investigation in 2012. They are not gracious after having found violations of the law at Nav again. – It is only necessary to state that it has not improved since the previous inspection, says Deputy Director Katarina Øi Heidem of the Health Inspectorate to news, before she continued: – It is clear that it is discouraging to see that we find the same offences, she says, and refers to the survey in 2012. NO IMPROVEMENT: Nav has not gotten better at following up the children since the previous survey, states the Norwegian Health Authority’s Katarina Øi Heidem. Photo: Terje Haugnes / news Heidem has led the work on the latest mapping. There are a total of 264 local Nav offices in Norway. Heidem says that it is difficult to answer whether the findings reflect all Nav offices. – It is difficult to say how representative they are, but nevertheless we know that the 68 NAV offices are spread over the whole of Norway, she says. Heidem explains the breach of the law to Nav as follows: – NAV offices do not always ask parents what their children need, and they rarely obtain children’s opinions and points of view in other ways, for example by talking to children directly, she says. Nav avoids punishment Nav director Hans Christian Holte promises a fine and improvement. – What is your message to the children who have not received the follow-up that the law requires? – All children must be taken care of, also when assessments are made that concern financial social assistance in each individual municipality and we must follow that up better in the future, he says to news. PROMISE (BROT): Nav director Hans Christian Holte promises that Nav will work to follow up the children better. Even though the agency has not improved since the previous inspection. Photo: William Jobling / news They must do this by ensuring that all Nav offices work according to the agency’s own guidelines. It says the following: “Could it happen that children are directly or indirectly affected by what I do? If the answer is yes, you must ensure that the child’s needs are taken care of.” Although the Norwegian Health Authority has uncovered clear violations of the law, Holte is not worried about any form of punitive action. – Is NAV expecting some form of punitive action here? – When it comes to the follow-up of this prosecutor and these findings from the Health Authority, there are no punitive reactions, but there are training measures and ensuring that the practice is good in all municipalities which is the essential thing, he says. Published 08.07.2024, at 20.25
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Family with children in need of money did not get help – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
