In this study the resemblances in the preparatory work that was conducted before the introduction of the Social Welfare Act (socialtjänstlagen) in 1982 as well as before the current legislation that came into power in 2001 has been studied. The aim of this study has been to examine the similarities and differences in preparatory work originating from two contrasting time periods using the model for thematic analysis suggested by Braun & Clarke (2006). The theories that were utilized discuss power, principles of governing and distribution of responsibilities, neo-liberalism, street-level bureaucracy and stigma. An important theoretical component consists of Bacchi and Evelines (2010) “WPR-approach” which brings up how the problem is handled linguistically. The empirical findings spanned over three levels: government, municipality and individuals and demonstrate theoretical models of explanation for these. In the empirical material no solutions on a structural or individual level were presented, instead moral and personal responsibility was accentuated as the path out of poverty. This study showed that the individual is subjectified, stigmatised and renounced which make it even more difficult to break free from the terms of aid.