Toimeentuloa

Toimeentulo, with the partitive form toimeentuloa, refers to the means by which a person or household secures the basic resources needed to live. It encompasses essential living costs such as food, housing, clothing and health-related expenses. In policy and public debate, toimeentulo describes the level of subsistence that society aims to guarantee to its residents and is often used in phrases like “toimeentuloa turvaaminen” or “toimeentulotuki.”

In Finland the concept is central to social security and welfare. The system combines earnings-based security (pensions, unemployment and sickness benefits) with targeted, means-tested support to ensure subsistence. The Social Insurance Institution (Kela) and municipal social services administer key instruments, including housing allowances, family benefits and the social assistance program known as toimeentulotuki. These tools together aim to prevent poverty and maintain a basic standard of living.

Toimeentuloa is influenced by income from work, benefits and housing costs, as well as non-monetary resources such as informal care. Adequacy of livelihood is a policy concern related to poverty reduction, social inclusion and economic security. Shifts in the economy, demographics and housing markets can affect the level of subsistence available to households.

Measuring toimeentulo and ensuring its adequacy are ongoing policy tasks. The term appears in legislation, administrative guidance and public discourse as a way to describe the welfare state's ongoing responsibility to provide a safety net and support people to participate in work and society.