Refugees lawfully staying in a country must receive the same treatment as nationals concerning public relief and assistance (Article 23 of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees).
The EU recognises and respects the entitlement to social security benefits and social services providing protection in cases such as maternity, illness, industrial accidents, dependency, old age and in the case of loss of employment. This applies to all individuals within the EU, including beneficiaries of international protection (The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union).
Beneficiaries of international protection must receive the same treatment as nationals of the Member State that granted them protection regarding access to social security and social assistance. Some forms of social assistance may require mandatory participation in integration measures, as long as these measures are free and accessible.
For beneficiaries of subsidiary protection, equal treatment in social assistance may be limited to core benefits, if allowed by national law. These core benefits must include at least: minimum income support, assistance related to illness or pregnancy, parental assistance, including childcare and housing benefits, when these are available to nationals under national law (Article 31 Qualification Regulation)
Vulnerable beneficiaries of international protection and/or beneficiaries with special needs should receive social care tailored to their needs. Member States should facilitate access to social services, provide adequate social care and support, assist with communication between beneficiaries and service providers, and ensure ongoing monitoring of their situation. This support should be provided already during the reception phase, at least for applicants with special needs, and continue after they receive international protection, as indicated in the EUAA Operational Standards and Indicators on Reception including Vulnerability-related Aspects, 2026, (Section 5.3. Health care, Standard 106, p. 142).
Information provision messages
Inform beneficiaries of international protection about the following.
- What are social assistance benefits: benefits provided by a Member State to people who lack sufficient resources to meet basic living needs, based on an assessment of their personal situation.
- What social assistance benefits usually include: e.g. a range of cash and support services, such as minimum income benefits, housing assistance, family or childcare support, food support, emergency financial aid, disability aid, child and school benefits.
- Their right to social assistance and their equal treatment with nationals regarding access to these benefits, including if there are any limitations for beneficiaries of subsidiary protection.
- The eligibility criteria for these benefits (e.g. age, income level, family composition, disability) and how to access them including the:
- competent authority for each type of benefit
- main steps of the application process (e.g. file preparation, interviews)
- timeframes for accessing the social assistance benefits.
- Available support services (e.g. counselling, support, translation and interpretation services) and the contact details of the service providers (e.g. non-governmental organisations, public services).
- Obligations for maintaining benefits (e.g. regular reporting, attending appointments, participation in integration activities, informing the authority of any changes in the personal situation such as employment status, family composition) and consequences of non-compliance.
- The importance of respectful interactions with social assistance service providers.
Practical tips
- Explain terms like ‘social security number’ or ‘benefits’ in simple terms.
- Give practical examples to enable beneficiaries to relate to a certain situation concerning a certain benefit
- Use multiple communication channels written (e.g. leaflets, brochures) or audio-visual (e.g. pictograms, posters, videos) to explain access to social security benefits, ensuring the information is accessible to all beneficiaries, regardless of impairments or literacy levels.
- Organise group information sessions to provide beneficiaries with detailed information on the social security benefits and to allow them to ask questions.