Councils had to find €675m last year to top up basic welfare payments, the social services managers organisation Divosa said on Thursday.

The shortfall was caused by an increase in the number of unemployed and government cuts in council budgets, and was double that in 2010.
In 2011, 96% of councils did not receive enough money for welfare payments from the government, news agency ANP quotes Divosa as saying. With the average pay-out at €14,436, councils had to find €2,000 for each welfare claimant from its own budget.
Social services tightened up the rules for welfare claims in 2011, according to Divosa. For instance, many of them introduced a waiting time before young claimants receive benefits, even though this measure was only officially introduced in January 2012. And 17% of councils also introduced a waiting time for claimants over 27 years of age who reapplied for welfare.
In addition, claimants were put under more pressure to find a job and were subjected to tougher controls. And 35% of councils expected something in return from claimants.
According to Divosa, 47% of claimants have little chance of finding another job.