Finland cuts welfare payments for more than 5,700 recipients

Finland reduced basic social assistance payments for more than 5,700 people in April after stricter welfare rules introduced earlier this year tightened conditions for receiving benefits. New figures published by Kela on Thursday show that the changes, which came into force in February, increased pressure on recipients to register as full-time jobseekers and apply for primary benefits such as unemployment support or housing assistance. At the same time, nearly 12,000 people who had received warnings avoided cuts after taking action before deadlines expired.