The BENEFITS initiative aims to address the critical challenge of inadequately measuring and valuing social services in Europe. Traditional economic indicators fail to capture the comprehensive societal impact of social services, leading to underestimation of their true value. By developing innovative methodologies and tools, BENEFITS seeks to create a holistic framework that quantifies the multidimensional benefits of social services beyond mere financial metrics. This approach will enable policymakers, stakeholders, and researchers to better understand, assess, and improve social service provision, ultimately contributing to more effective and equitable social policies across European countries.

The BENEFITS initiative aims to develop a comprehensive, multidimensional framework for measuring social services’ value. Through innovative methodologies like the Reframing Welfare Index and advanced microsimulation models, the project aims to quantify social service impacts beyond traditional economic indicators. By creating a digital Social Services Policy Observatory and conducting experimental pilots across Europe, BENEFITS will provide policymakers, stakeholders, and researchers with robust tools to assess, understand, and improve social service provision. The initiative’s holistic approach integrates data analytics, stakeholder engagement, and policy recommendations to transform how social services are evaluated and supported.