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Over the last ten years, the welfare ratio has never been as high as today: 2.5% of the population in Lucerne needs the same amount of money. financial assistance from the municipality. Emmen and Kriens have to dive into their pockets.
In the canton of Lucerne, more and more people depend on social assistance. (Image: Pius Amrein)
The latest statistics on the social assistance rate in the canton of Lucerne stand out: Emmen and Kriens, where each of the 4.5% of the population depends on social assistance. This was also the case in 2016, when a 4.2% quota was recorded in Kriens and 4% in Emmen. In the city of Lucerne, the rate is 4.1% (see chart). The canton average is 2.5%. Compared with 2016, this represents an increase of 0.2%. The latest figures from Lustat Statistik Luzern relate to last year and were published yesterday.
The canton of Lucerne is below the Swiss average
The municipalities of Schenkon (0.2), Vitznau (0.4), Eich, Sempach, Grossdietwil, Buttisholz and Schongau (0.5 each) reported low welfare rates. In 2017, 10,300 people depended on economic social assistance. The previous year it was only 9300. It's an increase of more than ten percent. Over the last ten years, the social assistance beneficiary rate in the Canton of Lucerne has never been as high as in 2017. The lowest value (2.04) has was recorded in 2011. The average for Central Switzerland is 2.0% and the Swiss average 3.3% (see table).
Fewer premiums, more social assistance
The two big cities of Emmen and Kriens, which have more than 30,000 and more than 27,000 inhabitants, are slightly surprised by the increase. Thomas Lehmann (FDP), social leader of the municipality of Emmen, said: "We were expecting a rise, but it was at 4.5% we would not have thought." In 2017, there was "an extraordinary number of additional cases," added Lehmann. Lehmann can only speculate on the concrete reasons for the increase in the number of new cases at the present time. However, it assumes that, among other things, reductions in premium reductions will affect the number of files. "People who do not receive any more premium, fall quickly into social assistance, because they do not have this amount," says the social director.
Foreigners are at greater risk of social assistance
In addition, the high proportion of foreigners in Emmen could also contribute to the increase in the social assistance rate. According to Lustat, foreigners are more dependent on social assistance than the Swiss (6.7% and 1.6%, respectively). The high rate of foreigners is motivated by a lower level of education, low opportunities in the labor market and often insufficient incomes. And that's exactly where the municipality wants to start Emmen, as Lehmann says. "Our goal is to reduce the length of stay in social assistance."
"Our goal is to reduce the length of stay in social assistance."
Thomas Lehmann, social manager of the municipality of Emmen
This goal must be achieved by closely accompanying welfare recipients and giving them the means to pay for themselves. In order to offer such support, the municipality of Emmen has created 400 percentage points. Young people are also approached, according to Lehmann. According to Lustat, the social assistance rate for children and adolescents in Lucerne under 17 is significantly higher than the average cantonal rate of 2.5% (4.4%).
The municipality of Emmen devoted 10.5 million francs to social and economic assistance in 2016, against 12 million in 2017. The total social expenditure for the past year amounted to 44, 1 million francs.
Kriens also supports a close company
Kriens belongs to the communities of agglomeration. And Kriens describes what applies to all communities of agglomeration: since 2015, they show a growing number of people supported and therefore an increase in social protection rates. In 2017, Kriens spent about eight million euros on social assistance. For Sidler, it is clear "that people who depend on economic welfare because of their financial situation should also benefit". It was legally anchored.
"People who depend on economic welfare assistance because of their financial situation should also benefit."
Lothar Sidler, social manager of the municipality of Kriens
In the last two years, new structures have been created to prevent abuse in particular. In addition, those affected would be better cared for. Sidler: "We may help them enforce pension rights and per diems, or integrate the labor market." Lothar Sidler and Thomas Lehmann assume that costs will continue to increase in 2018 as a result of the planned task and financial reform,
According to the reform, municipalities should fully cover the additional benefits for the AHV and IV as well as the updated health insurance premiums for welfare recipients. The increase in the cantonal social rate is mainly attributable to people who previously lived in the field of asylum and refugees and who were under the financial jurisdiction of the federal government, as noted by Lustat. 354 people have recently been added to this area. The total number in 2017 is 1065.
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