Tarveperusteinen

Tarveperusteinen is a Finnish term meaning "based on need." It refers to a principle in social policy and welfare where access to services or the distribution of resources is guided by assessed need rather than by equal allocation or universal entitlement. Needs are typically determined through assessments of individual or household circumstances, such as income, health, family size, housing situation, or other social disadvantages. The term is often used in discussions of welfare state design in Finland and other Nordic countries, where policy makers weigh tarveperusteisuus against universal provision (universalisuus) and efficiency considerations.

In practice tarveperusteinen is commonly linked to tarveharkinta, the process of determining who qualifies for a specific benefit or service. When a policy is tarveperusteinen, benefits may be targeted to those with greater demonstrated need, with the level of support scaled to severity. Conversely, universal policies provide a baseline level of support to all eligible individuals.

Benefits of tarveperusteinen allocation include greater equity by directing resources to those in most need and potential cost-effectiveness. Criticisms include administrative complexity, higher stigma for recipients during means-testing, and risk of under-coverage if assessments miss individuals with hidden or fluctuating needs.

Examples can be found in social care services, housing support, and targeted subsidies for essential goods or healthcare, where aid is adjusted to the assessed level of need rather than distributed uniformly. See also universality, needs-based policies, and means-testing in welfare state discussions.