Kela survey: Welfare cuts driving food insecurity and anxiety among benefit recipients

Tamperelainen reports that Kela's end-2025 national survey shows welfare cuts have left many benefit recipients across Finland unable to afford food and experiencing higher levels of anxiety. Many are turning to food aid.

Nearly nine in ten basic social assistance recipients said changes to housing support, basic social assistance and unemployment benefits had weakened their finances. About half called the effects significant.

More than half reported cutting back on food or relying on food aid. Many also withdrew from social contacts and faced higher levels of stress and anxiety.

Almost two-thirds said they can no longer afford holidays or leisure outside the home. Buying outdoor clothes, shoes, hygiene products and medicines has become harder.

"The cuts have hit low-income people hardest and show up as compromises on basic needs and psychological strain," said Kela researcher Hanna-Mari Heinonen. Basic social assistance recipients rated their financial future far more bleakly than other benefit recipients. Even before the 2026 cuts, two-thirds said they were seriously worried about their economic outlook.

The findings echo local trends the paper has reported: the cuts triggered a surge in help calls and assistance applications in Pirkanmaa and contributed to record demand for food aid in Tampere.