European Social Policy Network report: Access to social protection for young people

This European Social Policy Network (ESPN) Synthesis Report examines how eligibility conditions and benefit entitlements for social protection influence young peoples’ access to social protection. It provides a factual overview of the cash benefits available under five schemes:

  • unemployment
  • maternity, paternity, parental leave
  • sickness and healthcare
  • Guaranteed Minimum Income
  • housing

The report highlights the main gaps and obstacles that young people may face in accessing these benefits. It covers the 27 EU Member States, the UK, and the 7 candidate and potential candidate countries.

According to the report findings, the main gaps in accessing benefits relate to age and activity status. Activity status-based criteria prevent young people’s access to contributory benefits more frequently than age-based criteria, which are of importance mainly in the case of unemployment benefits. Non-standard workers, trainees and apprentices are most often de facto excluded due to their activity status.

The report distinguishes between three types of obstacles to accessing benefits:

  1. procedural barriers
  2. barriers related to activity status
  3. barriers affecting particular groups

A series of specific actions to be considered at national and/or EU levels to address these barriers are proposed in the report.

Find the full report (in English) and further information here. 

Find the full factsheet (in English) here.

Type
Data Sources, Governmental / Institutional / Public Health Statutory Body Document, Policy & Policy Analysis, Research
Theme
Employment, occupational health, adult education, youth employment, Financial security, social protection, social inclusion, access to care, poverty, Groups that experience vulnerability: women, ethnic minorities, LGBTI+, migrants, disability
Country
Europe
Level
European
Year
2022


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