畢業即脫貧？曾經使用社會救助的低收入戶青年經驗

Abstract

本研究主要針對低收入戶青年因畢業而使得家庭離開低收入戶脫貧一事進行探討，以離開低收入戶的時間點為關鍵，往前探討低收入戶青年脫貧前，社會救助是否有協助其建構脫貧能力；往後探討低收入戶青年脫貧後，低收入戶青年家庭是否真實脫貧，其家庭經濟狀況是否如同福利資格的取消，獲得改善？若家庭經濟狀況未獲得改善，則家庭又該如何因應？本研究會輔以生命歷程觀點的觀念，協助分析社會救助制度對低收入戶青年生命歷程的影響，以及其使用社會救助的生命經驗。 研究方法上，以質性半結構式深度訪談的方式，訪談七位「年齡22-29歲，因脫離求學階段─大學或研究所畢業，而失去低收入戶身分」的青年，並將其工作狀況納入考量進行取樣。研究結果發現，低收入戶青年對於脫貧結果感受相當意外，尚未做好心理準備即面對此種結果，然而是否接受離開低收入戶的事實，仍視家庭實際的經濟狀況決定。此外，低收入戶青年的社會救助使用經驗出發，我國社會救助制度尚缺乏積極的脫貧措施與協助，未建構其脫貧能力即遭脫貧。接著，究竟離開低收入戶之後，家庭是否真實脫貧，脫貧初期，受訪者的家庭經濟情況皆未有所好轉，因面臨離開低收入戶斷崖式的福利落差，導致低收入戶青年的所得難以彌補，使得家庭陷入經濟困難。若家庭其他工作人口工作狀態穩定，則家庭的經濟狀況能夠持平，但仍非稱上好轉。在此結果下，對於低收入戶青年家庭的飲食、工作、就醫、休閒娛樂與社交，甚至低收入戶青年的生涯規劃都產生影響，犧牲其生涯規劃以協助家庭失去社會救助的衝擊。 最後，研究結論方面，社會救助缺乏積極的脫貧協助措施；斷崖式的低收入戶福利落差，社會救助責任轉移於剛畢業的青年；福利落差的因應，犧牲低收入戶青年的生涯發展；社會救助的目的仍是補充性的所得維持，社會救助仍待修法。進而據此提出本研究的建議與限制。

This study focuses on exploring the phenomenon of low-income youths lifting their families out of poverty after graduation. By taking the point of leaving the low-income status as a key moment, the study investigates whether social assistance has helped these youths build the capacity to escape poverty before this point and examines the economic condition of their families after losing the low-income status. Specifically, it addresses whether these families truly escape poverty and whether their economic situation improves as the welfare qualification is canceled. If the economic situation does not improve, the study further explores how these families cope with the situation. This research applies the life course perspective to analyze the impact of the social assistance system on the life trajectories of low-income youths and their experiences with using social assistance. The research method involves qualitative semi-structured in-depth interviews with seven youths aged 22-29 who lost their low-income status due to graduation (from university or graduate school). Their work status is also considered in the sampling process. The findings reveal that low-income youths are often caught by surprise by the outcome of escaping poverty, facing it unprepared mentally. Whether they accept the fact of leaving the low-income status depends on the actual economic situation of their families. Furthermore, based on the experiences of low-income youths using social assistance, it is found that the social assistance system in Taiwan lacks proactive poverty alleviation measures and support, leading to a situation where these youths are expected to escape poverty without having built the necessary capacity. After leaving the low-income status, the economic condition of the respondents' families did not improve initially. The abrupt loss of welfare benefits led to an economic shortfall, causing financial difficulties for the families. If other family members have stable jobs, the economic situation can be maintained but not significantly improved. This situation affects the diet, work, medical care, leisure activities, and social interactions of the low-income youth families, as well as their career planning, as they often sacrifice their career plans to help their families cope with the loss of social assistance. In conclusion, the study highlights the lack of proactive poverty alleviation measures in the social assistance system, the abrupt welfare gap faced by youths just after graduation, and the resulting sacrifice of their career development. It suggests that the primary purpose of social assistance remains as a supplementary income maintenance measure, indicating a need for legal reforms in the social assistance system. The study also presents suggestions and limitations based on the findings.