Across Europe, millions are struggling to meet their basic needs as current minimum income schemes are failing to provide adequate support. Today, Caritas Europa launched its latest report, which highlights deep flaws in national minimum income schemes and urges policymakers to rethink how income support can serve as a true foundation for social inclusion.
The report, “Thriving, not just surviving: Shaping effective minimum income systems in Europe”, draws on insights from 20 Caritas organisations across Europe, providing concrete recommendations for strengthening current systems. The findings are stark: nearly 90% of Caritas organisations surveyed say benefits in their countries fall short of covering basic needs. Only five countries provide support that reaches at least 75% of the national poverty threshold.
I’ve been unemployed for five years and live with my daughter in a social rental apartment. We receive 998 euros monthly – barely enough to cover basic needs. There’s no money for internet, leisure or holidays, not even a stable Wi-Fi connection for my daughter’s schoolwork. With €1,500 a month, we could live with dignity, not just get by. says Nargis Haque, Beneficiary of minimum income in Spain
Access barriers further compound the problem. Many systems exclude young adults, particularly those aged 18 to 25, unless they meet strict or arbitrary conditions. Migrants, people without stable housing and those unable to fulfil stringent residency or contribution criteria are often ineligible. Bureaucracy, stigma and digital barriers further discourage applications, resulting in widespread non-take-up, meaning many never even apply for the help they are entitled to.
“Minimum income schemes should allow people to live with dignity and participate fully in society. This report is a call to action. We urge EU and national leaders to prioritise inclusive and adequate income support as a pillar of the EU’s upcoming anti-poverty strategy.” says Maria Nyman, Secretary General of Caritas Europa
Caritas Europa stresses that minimum income schemes must be reimagined not only to provide financial relief but to tackle the root causes of poverty. That means enabling access to healthcare, housing, education and employment.
The value of this report lies in the stories and evidence shared by Caritas teams across the region. Caritas organisations offer grounded national insights shaped by their daily work with people in vulnerable situations – from Georgia to Ireland, Norway to Greece. Indeed, over 70% of Caritas organisations surveyed are actively working to address the gaps in current income support frameworks through service adaptation, research and policy work. In Slovakia, for instance, Caritas runs over 300 social services, assisting groups ranging from children and mothers in crisis to the elderly, refugees and trafficking survivors. Caritas in Cyprus and Norway, meanwhile, offers individual support to help vulnerable groups navigate complex benefit systems.
Key recommendations to EU and national leaders include:
Guarantee adequacy: Minimum income should meet at least 75% of the national poverty threshold for all household types.
Ensure inclusive access: Eligibility criteria must be simplified and expanded to avoid excluding young people, migrants and people facing housing insecurity.
Boost take-up: Combat stigma and simplify administrative procedures through targeted outreach, digital support alternatives and user-friendly application systems.
Coordinated EU action: The EU should promote binding standards for minimum income, linked to its broader strategy on social rights and poverty reduction.
This report comes at a crucial time as the European Commission prepares its first-ever EU anti-poverty strategy. Caritas Europa’s recommendations offer timely input to ensure minimum income systems truly reflect the Union’s values and the promises of the European Pillar of Social Rights, ensuring that no one is left behind in the fight against poverty.
The following Caritas organisations contributed to the report: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain. From Caritas Finland, Secretary General Larissa Franz-Koivisto took part.
“The situation in Finland is similar to that of other Nordic countries. We have a basic social security system, and the basic social assistance provided by Kela (the Social Insurance Institution) is established by law. This is complemented by social services and additional financial support, such as supplementary and preventive social assistance. These fall under the responsibility of the wellbeing services counties,” Franz-Koivisto explains.
She described Finland’s social security system in the European Anti-Poverty Network’s Poverty Watch report, published in 2024. The publication, coordinated by Franz-Koivisto, offers a comprehensive overview of Finland’s social protection system and its structural challenges.
