Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

The objective of this study was to provide information about the range of social assistance benefits and services in 24 OECD countries. The benefits included are those designed to give a minimum level of subsistence to people in need based on a test of resources. All data have been verified and updated to May 1996 by government officials in each country.

Main Topics:

This dataset provides detailed accounts, on a country by country basis, of the aims, structure, administrative and legal contexts, eligibility and conditionality rules of social assistance schemes. The data are sorted according to country, benefit name, benefit type, benefit unit, eligibility and claimant category (families, widows, disabled, unemployed, employed, lone parents, sick, elderly, young people, maternity, students, children and veterans). Additionally there is a detailed glossary of social assistance terms and a 1480 item bibliography.

No sampling (total universe)

Data in form of written responses to proforma questionnaire obtained direct from national officials in each country.