Responding to the crisis: Iceland’s new housing benefit

The ESPN Flash Reports are produced by the European Social Policy Network (ESPN) established in 2014 to provide the European Commission with independent information, analysis and expertise on social policies. The topics presented in the Flash Reports are identified by ESPN experts in the light of significant developments in their countries, or in some cases suggested by the Commission.

The ESPN is managed by LISER and APPLICA, with the support of OSE - European Social Observatory. For more information, please visit this website.
In June 2015, the Icelandic Minister of Social and Housing Affairs put a proposal to parliament for a new housing benefit. The aim of the new benefit is to equalise public income support to those who live in rented accommodation and make it more comparable to the prevailing more generous support to those living in their own accommodation.

Author: Stefán Ólafsson

• Primary Source