Krav och konsekvenser : Handläggarperspektiv på effekter av aktivitetskrav för mottagande av försörjningsstöd

This study aims to examine the effects of activation requirements (aktivitetsplikt) for recipients of social assistance in Sweden, from the perspective of social workers. The focus is on transitions to employment, reductions in granted support, and the risk of welfare dependency. Using a mixed methods design, both quantitative data and qualitative interviews with social workers from one municipality were analyzed. The results show that the activation requirement has had no clear effect on the number of cases closed due to self-sufficiency. However, more recipients have been referred to labor market programs after its introduction. The interviews reveal that activation requirements are perceived as an administrative tool for social workers, functioning more as a governance mechanism than as an actual path to self-sufficiency. Several respondents state that the requirement motivates some clients, but the long-term effects are uncertain and depend on individual circumstances. The analysis suggests that activation requirements reinforce a system where work becomes a moral obligation rather than a right. These findings should be understood in light of theories on disciplining and conditional rights, where welfare not only supports individuals but also shapes their behavior.