legal and social conditions for asylum seekers and refugees in ...

SOCIAL CONDITIONS FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS
Introduction/legal basis
The new Act on the Integration of Immigrants and Reception of Asylum Seekers (the Integration
Act) includes provisions on the accommodation, benefits and other services granted to asylum
seekers arriving in Finland.
Accommodation
The border authorities normally refer asylum seekers to the closest reception centre to their point
of arrival in Finland (usually Helsinki, but also the Russian border). Allocation of accommodation
also depends on the availability of places in the centres. Asylum seekers may either stay in a
reception centre or find their own accommodation.
There were 19 reception centres at the beginning of 2000. Of these, 11 are run by the local
municipalities, 3 by the state, 4 by the Finnish Red Cross and one by Folkhälsan, a welfare
organisation.
Whenever possible, families are accommodated separately, but single people may have to share
rooms and facilities. Generally, asylum seekers cook their own meals.
Asylum seekers are allowed to stay in the reception centres during the whole procedure, inclusive
of the appeal process.
Financial assistance
Asylum seekers are entitled to a living allowance, which is intended to cover all living expenses,
including food and clothing, but not accommodation (available free of charge in the reception
centres). The allowance is based on the basic supplementary social allowance granted to
nationals, although its amount is reduced by 15 % for an adult and 20 % for a child because of
the free accommodation and other services provided in the reception centre. Those staying
outside the reception centre also receive the reduced allowance.
The amount of the living allowance may differ slightly according to the municipality in which the
reception centre is located. A typical monthly living allowance granted to an asylum seeker in
1999 was as follows.
Single persons and single parents FIM 1,740 EUR 292.5
Other persons over 18 years (e.g. married) FIM 1,479 EUR 249
Child over 18 living with parent(s) FIM 1,270 EUR 213.6
First child aged 10-17 FIM 1,146 EUR 198
Second child aged 10-17 FIM 1,065 EUR 179
Third and subsequent child aged 10-17 FIM 982 EUR 165
First child under 10 years FIM 1,032 EUR 173.5
Second child under 10 years FIM 950 EUR 160
Third and subsequent child under 10 years FIM 868 EUR 146
As an example, a family with two adults and two children aged 12 and 9 would receive a monthly
total allowance of FIM 5,054 [EUR 850].
Asylum seekers are not entitled to child benefit or any other social benefits.
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Finland