Fewer receive work assessment allowance

NAV,NAV logo. Photo Norway Today Media

Over the past year the number of people who receive work assessment allowance, have been reduced by over 3,000 people. The majority have found employment.

The figures from the Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) indicate that the number of young recipients of the benefit has increased.

At the end of September, the figures revealed that 146,200 people received the work assessment allowance. This is the equivalent to 4.4 percent of the population between the ages of 18-66, down from 4.5 percent a year ago.

– The decline is due to several have stopped receiving the allowance, while the number beginning, remains stable. Among those who have stopped, the main reason is due to them being employed, said Labour and Welfare Director Sigrun Vågeng.

Of the 5,700 persons who in January were receiving the work assessment allowance, 43 percent have since found work, while 32 per cent have been receiving disability benefits a half year later.

So far, during 2016 there is an average of 4,600 people per month who start receiving the work assessment allowance and over half of them are receiving sick pay.

Meanwhile, the figures show that in September this year there were 28,600 persons under the age of 30 who received the work assessment allowance. This is 800 more than the same period last year and equivalent to 3.4 percent of the population for ages between 18-29.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today