The significance of starting-out assistance for refugees’ conditions of life and employment

Starthjælpens betydning for flygtninges levevilkår og beskæftigelse (The significance of starting-out assistance for refugees’ conditions of life and employment) describes in detail a number of societal and employment consequences for refugees of the introduction in Denmark as of 1 July 2002 of the low-level income support scheme known as “starting-out assistance”. The first section of the study paper describes the general conditions of life for refugees who are in receipt of starting-out assistance. How much are the payments, and how much money remains after deduction of tax and payment of rent? There is also a broader description of the financial circumstances of refugees in Denmark – both those who are dependent on state benefits and thus actually live on starting-out assistance, and those who have found employment. The second part of the study paper describes the employment effects of the introduction of starting-out assistance, both in the short term and in the slightly longer term, and examines the types of job that refugees take in Denmark – and at what rates of pay.