The COVID social support helpline fulfilled its purpose and has now ceased its operations

The COVID social support helpline fulfilled its purpose and has now ceased its operations

The COVID social support helpline, set up by the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences of the University of South Bohemia during the difficult economic and social situation of the pandemic, has ceased its operations after almost a month of activity. From 17 April, people who needed advice on whether and how they could receive social benefits were able to obtain this information free of charge. The line fulfilled its purpose: three students led by doc. PhDr. Alena Kajanová, Ph.D., and Mgr. Stanislav Ondrášek answered almost four hundred phone calls and e-mails. They have helped people find their way around the benefits system and which benefit applies to them. They were also approached by people unable to call the relevant authorities due to congested crisis lines or those who wanted to verify the information they had received from officials.

The questions most frequently came from the self-employed: many asked about nursing allowances, material need benefits, unemployment benefits, sickness benefits, etc. All of these people received answers to their questions. Sometimes, a team from the Institute of Social and Special Education Sciences of the FHHS USB needed counselling from the CSSA (ČSSZ) or other institutions. "The most difficult questions were from foreigners who had come to our country for work and now needed to know the conditions for returning home," said Assoc. Prof. Kajanová, who came up with the idea to offer this service to the public. The COVID social support line operated under the Institute of Applied Health and Social Sciences of the FHSS USB, which already offers free rheumatology and lactation counselling.

All interviews were anonymous, but it can be assumed that the enquires were from all over the Czech Republic. Three students of the ‘Social Work Management in Organizations’ master's degree programme took turns to respond by phone and e-mail. The most difficult thing was telling some callers they were not entitled to any support. The students were often approached by people who had been unsuccessful in their requests to the authorities - and were now trying to find some other options. According to the students, however, it was great practice; it made them feel useful and helped them to realize the enormous responsibility of their work.

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