Försäkringskassan

Försäkringskassan, the Swedish Social Insurance Agency, pays benefits such as child allowance (barnbidrag), parental pay (föräldrapenning) and sick pay (sjukpenning). Most people who live or work in Sweden are insured here. As a newcomer you often need to give your details first, and several benefits have a last day to apply. Försäkringskassan always decides whether you're entitled to something.

• You don't need a personnummer. Without one, you use your samordningsnummer (coordination number).
• While you're waiting for a residence permit, you usually can't get benefits yet.
• Your first application can take longer, because Försäkringskassan then checks whether you're insured in Sweden.
• From 1 January 2027, people who move to Sweden must qualify for benefits including child allowance (barnbidrag), housing allowance (bostadsbidrag) and parental benefit at the basic and minimum levels: by having lived in Sweden, or another EU/EEA country, for a total of 5 of the last 15 years, or by having had a certain income here. Sickness benefit and vab are not among them. Försäkringskassan: qualification

1. Give Försäkringskassan your details

   If you move to Sweden with children under 16, you must give Försäkringskassan your details to get child allowance. Use the e-service Lämna uppgifter vid flytt till eller arbete i Sverige (details when moving to or working in Sweden) on Mina sidor, or form 5456. Include the children under 18 you're the guardian of in your own notification.

   From an EU/EEA country or Switzerland, send a document from that country's authority about your social insurance there. If you need a residence or work permit, send copies of all your permits.

   Försäkringskassan: move to Sweden
2. Child allowance and large-family supplement

   For children under 16. Child allowance (barnbidrag) is paid automatically every month once Försäkringskassan has your details and both you and your child are insured in Sweden. With at least two children you also get the large-family supplement (flerbarnstillägg). Neither is taxed.

   Försäkringskassan: child allowance (in Swedish)
3. Parental pay

   When you stay at home to care for your child instead of working. Parents share 480 days per child, and you can start at the earliest 60 days before the expected birth.

   Apply at the latest 90 days after the first day you were at home with your child.

   Försäkringskassan: parental pay (in Swedish)
4. VAB, when your child is ill

   When you stay home from work, or miss unemployment benefit, to care for a sick child (vård av barn, VAB). It also covers some care visits and meetings about your child's illness.

   Apply at the latest 30 days after the first day you were at home. Later only in exceptional cases.

   Försäkringskassan: VAB (in Swedish)
5. Housing allowance for families If your income is low

   For families with children living at home and a low income (bostadsbidrag). You must live, and be registered, at the home you apply for. You estimate your yearly income, and a decision lasts at most 12 months.

   Apply as soon as you can: housing allowance is only paid from the month you apply, never backwards.

   If you earn more than you estimated, you pay back the difference. From 1 January 2027 Försäkringskassan checks most people's incomes every month instead.

   Försäkringskassan: housing allowance (in Swedish)
6. Maintenance support If you don't live together

   If your child's other parent doesn't pay child maintenance, or pays only part of it, you as the parent your child lives with can apply (underhållsstöd). Upload the documents when you apply, at the latest within 7 days.

   Försäkringskassan: maintenance support (in Swedish)
7. Sick pay If you get ill

   Employed: report sick to your employer on the first day. Your employer usually pays the first 14 days. From day 15 you can get sick pay, once your employer has reported you to Försäkringskassan.

   Job-seeking: report sick to Försäkringskassan on the very first day. If you miss it, sick pay can go back at most 7 days.

   Försäkringskassan needs a doctor's certificate. The doctor usually sends it digitally.

   If you're employed (in Swedish) If you're job-seeking (in Swedish)
8. Introduction benefit In the introduction programme

   For people aged 20–64 who recently got a residence permit as a refugee, a person in need of protection or a family member, and take part in Arbetsförmedlingen's introduction programme (etableringsprogrammet). Arbetsförmedlingen gives you a place, and then you apply to Försäkringskassan for the introduction benefit (etableringsersättning).

   Apply every month. If your application arrives after the last day of the month, you may get no money at all for that month.

   With children under 20 living at home, you can apply for a child supplement (barntillägg) since 1 September 2026. If you're two guardians, you each apply, every month.

   Försäkringskassan: introduction benefit (in Swedish)

1. Give your details when you apply

   Without children, you give the details about your move when you apply for a benefit, a certificate or an EU card: in the e-service on Mina sidor, or on form 5456.

   From an EU/EEA country or Switzerland, send a document from that country's authority about your social insurance there. If you need a residence or work permit, send copies of all your permits.

   Försäkringskassan: move to Sweden
2. Sick pay If you get ill

   Employed: report sick to your employer on the first day. Your employer usually pays the first 14 days. From day 15 you can get sick pay, once your employer has reported you to Försäkringskassan.

   Job-seeking: report sick to Försäkringskassan on the very first day. If you miss it, sick pay can go back at most 7 days.

   Försäkringskassan needs a doctor's certificate. The doctor usually sends it digitally.

   If you're employed (in Swedish) If you're job-seeking (in Swedish)
3. Housing allowance for young people If you're under 29

   For people under 29 with a low income, whether you work or study, and even if you sublet. Upload the documents about your housing costs when you apply, or within 7 days. A decision lasts at most 12 months.

   Apply as soon as you can: housing allowance is only paid from the month you apply, never backwards.

   Försäkringskassan: housing allowance for young people (in Swedish)
4. Introduction benefit In the introduction programme

   For people aged 20–64 who recently got a residence permit as a refugee, a person in need of protection or a family member, and take part in Arbetsförmedlingen's introduction programme (etableringsprogrammet). Arbetsförmedlingen gives you a place, and then you apply to Försäkringskassan for the introduction benefit (etableringsersättning).

   Apply every month. If your application arrives after the last day of the month, you may get no money at all for that month.

   Försäkringskassan: introduction benefit (in Swedish)