An acknowledged principle in modern society says that a country shall secure social security for its citizens, which offers confidence in the future and the opportunity to live all one’s life in accordance with human dignity. The measures of social security are divided into social security and welfare.

Social security is a guarantee granted by the state in case of realisation of certain social risks (death, loss of a provider, old age, professional incapacity, birth of a child) with which additional income or continuity of sources of income shall be secured at least at the level that enables life acceptable with regard to human dignity. Social security is financed out of compulsory taxes or payments as well as voluntary payments.

Welfare is a system of procedures the objective of which is to secure different liberties to people and create better opportunities for development of the economy through the development of human resources. At the same time social involvement is increased, poverty and social exclusion are prevented and alleviated more efficiently and on a larger scale.

The source document of development policy of social services drawn up in the Ministry of Social Affairs in 1999 is already engaged in implementation of social policy measures as an investment in people and through people in the economy and society as a whole.

The welfare instruments (procedures) may be both social benefits as well as services.

The benefits paid as social assistance differ from the social security benefits in such a way that they are paid only when the person being assisted is in need. The right for benefit and the amount of the benefit depend on the individual need.

Pursuant to the historically developed custom the public sector has the key role in the development and execution of social policy. Upon providing help, the subsidiary principle shall be proceeded from, in accordance with which public obligations are generally preferably performed by the state bodies nearest to the citizen and at first the resources at the nearest level (the primary level) to the person in need of assistance shall be used. The central authority has the legitimate right of decision upon defining compulsory tasks at the primary level.

The client-centred welfare centres around an individual with his or her different needs, and the set of services-benefits offered shall be developed proceeding from a specific person and the environment surrounding him or her.