Romanians’ fears linked to the social work system: Too many people take advantage without needing help

Abstract

The article provides empirical evidence on Romanians’ concerns over the effectiveness of their social work system in correctly evaluating social needs and preventing welfare frauds. Based on a national survey conducted in 2022, we found that 59 percent of the respondents believe that too many people receive social benefits without needing help. We analyze the profile of this category of respondents by taking into account vulnerabilities of the individual/household, opinions about social workers, attitudes toward increasing public funds for social protection, households’ economic well-being and various socio-demographics (age, gender, and education). The article’s conclusions can inform research and policies in this field.