International Day of Eradication of Poverty- The Ombudsman's view on the withdrawal of support for alternative employment

Press release:

International Day of Eradication of Poverty- The Ombudsman's view on the withdrawal of support for alternative employment

1559/2012

It is unfair that the receipt of social benefits and supports of people being in bad financial situation is subject to the condition of use of costly services- said by Máté Szabó as a conclusion of investigation of a complaint received from a Báta inhabitant.

According to the authorization of law, the local government may order that only those can receive wage replacement benefits whom property and its external environment is clean and tidy. If the residential environment of the applicant or the person receiving wage replacement does not meet the requirements, or the owner does not change anything despite the note of the notary, the application must be refused or the ongoing benefit should be cancelled.

The notary of Báta had repeatedly checked the complainant's residence and found that the sewage-water flows into the courtyard and to the street as well. Fulfilling the demand of the notary, the owner led the cess-water to the drain tank in the yard of his house. As the drainage work was done by the owner, obviously he could not present an invoice on the work. Due to the missing invoice, the notary repeated his decision that the neighbourhood was still in poor hygienic conditions; therefore he terminated the complainant's active-age benefit entitlement. The appeal on the case was rejected by the Tolna County Government Office which approved the notary's decision.

Upon the inquiry of the case, Máté Szabó, Commissioner for Fundamental Rights, concluded that it is not provided by law that persons entitled to social benefits should not do the work by themselves and must employ a service provider. Therefore, the procedure of the local government and the government office violates the right to fair procedure and social security. It is unfair that the receipt of social benefits and supports of people in bad financial situation is subject to the condition of use of costly services, said Ombudsman, Máté Szabó.