Fri, 15 Jan, 2016 01:32:11 AM FTimes-STT Report, Jan 15  One person is seen to apply for social support at a social office in Helsinki. File Photo Lehtikuva. A third of the people entitled to social benefits do not seek the supports, reported the Finnish language daily Etelä-Suomen Sanomat.
According to the report, some 110,000 households are eligible for support.
The most vulnerable are those who are too tired at or frustrated by the application process.
The threshold for applying can be very high, especially for elderly people.
The National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) estimated that up to one-third of those eligible are simply in too bad a condition to exercise their rights to social welfare.
On the other hand, some shun social services out of embarrassment. THL researcher Jouko Karjalainen said relying on social assistance is still a mark of shame in Finland.
The situation might soon become worse, as applications for basic income support changes at the beginning of next year from municipalities to the social security agency Kela.
THL researcher Minna Kivipelto said too many people in dire straits may go unnoticed in the near future.
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