The study represents the second year of the research project A Comparative Study on Social Assistance that started in 2014. The project, in its first year, looked into social assistance systems and welfare reforms in the UK and Japan. The present study selected three countries―Sweden, France, and the US― for comparison of social assistance systems. The aim of this study is to examine how social assistance systems works in other countries and to develop a social assistance reform model for Korea. Finally, the research would help build a baseline data of recent social assistance reforms of various counties.
This study proposes an in-depth analytical framework of international comparison of social assistance systems. The framework is utilized for analysing the six focus areas which are related to public assistance. This study focuses on the following six topics:
1. Historical background of social assistance
2. Basic structure and feature of social assistance
3. Eligibility and benefit payment of each social assistance program
4. Recent trend of policy reforms(including Relations with Employment and Social Supports)
5. Administration and delivery of social assistance.
6. Policy Implications in Korean Social Welfare System
A Study on Social Assistance in France
The French social assistance is characterized as follows. First, it includes not only minimum income schemes called ‘Minima Sociaux’ but also medical assistance, housing benefits, and social assistance programs called ‘Aide Sociale’ which are operating under the responsibility of local governments(d?partments). Second, ‘Minima Sociaux’ presents the plural system which has nine non-contributive benefits on the basis of means-test. The coverage, eligibility criteria and benefit level of these benefits are established differently depending on the characteristics and needs of the poor. Third, Revenu de Solidarit?Active(RSA)-active solidarity income- was introduced as part of the reform of Minima Sociaux in the late 2000s, replacing Revenu Minimum d’Insertion(RMI) ? minimum inclusion income? and the Allocation de Parent Isol?(API) ? single parent benefit. The new RSA was designed to enhance work incentives for unemployed people and low-income workers. Fourth, the delivery system of social assistance in France focuses on ‘simplification’in spite of the complexity of the benefits so that people in difficulty can access easily to the benefits available to them.