Kela survey links benefit cuts to anxiety and food insecurity

A survey by Yle’s publisher Yle found that cuts to social security have weakened wellbeing, particularly among people receiving basic social assistance from Kela, Finland’s social insurance institution.

Most respondents whose income had fallen because of the cuts said they felt more anxious than before. Most also said they could not afford leisure activities outside the home and had either cut back on food or sought food aid.

Nearly nine in 10 respondents receiving basic social assistance said changes to social assistance and housing allowance had worsened their financial situation. Half said the impact had been significant. Recipients of other Kela benefits were considerably less likely to describe the effects as significant.

“The cuts have affected people on low incomes, who were already in a vulnerable position, according to both our research and earlier studies,” Kela researcher Hanna-Mari Heinonen said in a statement.

Social assistance can sometimes compensate for cuts to primary benefits, but not everyone receives it every month. As a result, cuts to benefits such as unemployment support can also affect some people who receive social assistance.

Limited confidence in the future

Sixty-five percent of respondents receiving social assistance said they had a high level of concern about their future financial situation. Only 5 percent said their concern was low.

Among recipients of other benefits, 70 percent reported high or moderate concern about their future financial situation.

Nearly half of those whose financial situation had worsened because of the cuts said they had withdrawn from social situations because of their deteriorating finances.

A total of 4,000 people responded to the Kela survey, about half of them recipients of basic social assistance. The survey was conducted in November and December 2025.

At the end of 2025, 6.4 percent of Finland’s population received basic social assistance.