Are you eligible for the Norwegian government's Christmas handout?
Social assistance recipients in Norway are set to receive an additional financial support payment for December. Here's what you need to know about the measure.
Norway's governing parties – the Labour Party (AP) and the Centre Party (SP) – have reached an agreement with their budget partner, the oppositional Socialist Left Party (SV), on additional financial support for multiple vulnerable groups in society ahead of Christmas.
"We believe this is an important contribution to a very vulnerable group in the times we live in now. It is particularly important with regard to Christmas and New Year celebrations," the Labour Party's Frode Jacobsen told the news bureau NTB.
Eligibility and payout details
In total, around 50,000 social assistance recipients (with some 30,000 children) will be eligible for the additional payment.
So, if you're receiving social assistance, you'll be able to get a small bump to your monthly finances in December.
According to the deal between the government and the Socialist Left Party (SV), social assistance recipients in the country will get an additional 1,000 kroner, plus a further 1,000 kroner per child.
The Center Party's Kjerstin Wøyen Funderud stated that her party is worried by the growing queues at food distribution checkpoints and stories of people struggling with high electricity bills.
"This alone does not solve all the challenges people face, but we believe it is a good contribution," she said.
"Many people are now finding it difficult to make it to Christmas. We are doing this to strengthen their finances in the short term so that those who have the least can have a good Christmas," she added.
When will the money be paid out?
However, it is not certain that people will see the additional payout in their bank accounts before Christmas.
A lot will depend on the municipalities and the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV), tasked with implementing the measure.
"I am sure that those who are going to implement this have understood what the parliament's wish is – the intention is as clear as it gets.
"I expect both the municipalities and the NAV to do everything in their power to get the money out (to people) as quickly as possible," Jacobsen told NTB.
The government and the SV have agreed to set aside up to 100 million kroner for the measure.
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Norway's governing parties – the Labour Party (AP) and the Centre Party (SP) – have reached an agreement with their budget partner, the oppositional Socialist Left Party (SV), on additional financial support for multiple vulnerable groups in society ahead of Christmas.
"We believe this is an important contribution to a very vulnerable group in the times we live in now. It is particularly important with regard to Christmas and New Year celebrations," the Labour Party's Frode Jacobsen told the news bureau NTB.
Eligibility and payout details
In total, around 50,000 social assistance recipients (with some 30,000 children) will be eligible for the additional payment.
So, if you're receiving social assistance, you'll be able to get a small bump to your monthly finances in December.
According to the deal between the government and the Socialist Left Party (SV), social assistance recipients in the country will get an additional 1,000 kroner, plus a further 1,000 kroner per child.
The Center Party's Kjerstin Wøyen Funderud stated that her party is worried by the growing queues at food distribution checkpoints and stories of people struggling with high electricity bills.
"This alone does not solve all the challenges people face, but we believe it is a good contribution," she said.
"Many people are now finding it difficult to make it to Christmas. We are doing this to strengthen their finances in the short term so that those who have the least can have a good Christmas," she added.
When will the money be paid out?
However, it is not certain that people will see the additional payout in their bank accounts before Christmas.
A lot will depend on the municipalities and the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV), tasked with implementing the measure.
"I am sure that those who are going to implement this have understood what the parliament's wish is – the intention is as clear as it gets.
"I expect both the municipalities and the NAV to do everything in their power to get the money out (to people) as quickly as possible," Jacobsen told NTB.
The government and the SV have agreed to set aside up to 100 million kroner for the measure.
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