Council Regulation (EC) No 2223/96Show full title

Social benefits in kind (D.631) U.K.

4.105. Social benefits in kind are social transfers in kind intended to relieve the households from the financial burden of social risks or needs (see paragraph 4.84). They can be subdivided into those where beneficiary households actually purchase the goods and services themselves and are then reimbursed, and those where the relevant services are provided directly to the beneficiaries. In this second case, general government units or NPISHs produce or purchase, entirely or in part, goods and services which are directly provided by their producers to the beneficiaries. U.K.

Social security benefits, reimbursements (D.6311) U.K.

These benefits consist of reimbursement by social security funds of approved expenditures made by households on specified goods or services.

When a household purchases a good or service for which it is subsequently reimbursed, in part or in whole, by a social security fund, the household can be regarded as if it were acting on behalf of the social security fund. In effect, the household provides a short-term credit to the social security fund that is liquidated as soon as the household is reimbursed.

The amount of the expenditure reimbursed is recorded as being incurred directly by the social security fund at the time the household makes the purchase, while the only expenditure recorded for the household is the difference, if any, between the purchaser's price paid and the amount reimbursed. Thus, the amount of the expenditure reimbursed is not treated as a current transfer in cash from the social security funds to households.

Other social security benefits in kind (D.6312) U.K.

These consist of social transfers in kind, except reimbursements, made by social security funds to households. Most other social security benefits in kind are likely to consist of medical or dental treatments, surgery, hospital accommodation, spectacles or contact lenses, medical appliances or equipment, and similar goods or services in the context of social risks or needs. The service is provided directly to the beneficiaries, without reimbursement, by market or non-market producers and should be valued accordingly. Any payments made by the householders themselves should be deducted.[F1 Other social security benefits in kind can be therefore subdivided into those for which the service is produced by market producers and purchased by general government units or NPISHs (D.63121), and those for which the service is produced by non-market producers (D.63122).]

Textual Amendments

F1 Inserted by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1500/2000 of 10 July 2000 implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 2223/96 with respect to general government expenditure and revenue.

Social assistance benefits in kind (D.6313) U.K.

These consist of transfers in kind provided to households by government units or NPISHs that are similar in nature to social security benefits in kind but are not provided in the context of a social insurance scheme. Included are, if not covered by a social insurance scheme, social housing, dwelling allowance, day nurseries, professional training, reductions on transport prices (provided that there is a social purpose), and similar goods and services in the context of social risks or needs. Any payments made by the householders themselves should be deducted.[F1 Social assistance benefits in kind can be therefore subdivided into those for which the service is produced by market producers and purchased by general government units or NPISHs (D.63131), and those for which the service is produced by non-market producers (D.63132).]