The article bases on the sociological concept of the pretend activities, formulated by Jan Lutynski in 1977. The subject of the analysis are the manifestations of such bogus activities in the field of social assistance, with the focus point to the social work. Commenting on the specific features of pretend activities in social work, the authoress suggests the presence of the same mechanisms as described in 70. by Jan Lutynski, that induce them. Both their level, as well as their functions to social assistance system, other systems and their causes need to be empirically studied.