Factsheet for measure
SE-2020-27/981
–
Updated
– measures in Sweden
Sickness compensation for COVID-19 risk groups can be paid preventively
Ersättning till riskgrupper
Background information
In order to support employees and self-employed who belong to risk groups, sickness allowance can now be paid out preventively. The aim is to support those employees and self-employed who cannot work from home but need to refrain from work due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The right to sickness allowance is regulated in chapter 27 of the Socialförsäkringsbalk (2010:110) (Social Insurance Code). A preventive sickness allowance is normally available only for employees who are in rehabilitation or who receive medical treatment but are not eligible for regular sickness allowance.
Content of measure
Preventive sickness benefit for employees is available for people belonging to the at-risk group of falling seriously ill with COVID-19. Even self-employed can apply. Casual employees can receive this form of financial support in case they have had to cancel already booked shifts due to the risk of infection.
This measure is available for employees who need to refrain from working in order to avoid being infected and who cannot work from home or whose employer cannot assign them to other duties.
The maximum amount of support is SEK 804 (approximately €80) per day (before taxes). This support can be paid out for a maximum of 90 days. This applies for the period of 1 July to 30 September 2020.
Updates
The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.
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17 September 2021
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The Government has decided to end this measure since 70% of the population is now vaccinated. As of 1 October, this extension to the sickness compensation is no longer available.
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21 January 2021
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The Government proposed a further extension to the duration of this temporary measure. According to the proposal, the duration of this measure will be extended until the end of April 2021.
The number of days a person can be compensated will also increase, from 184 days to 274 days.
Retroactive application will be possible.
The Parliament is expected to decide upon this matter in February 2021.
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16 November 2020
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The number of days a person can be compensated was increased from 90 days to 184 days between 1 July 2020 and 31 December 2020.
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Use of measure
As of 16 November 2020, the number of applications was 6,200 and SEK 102 million (approximately €10 million) had been paid out.
Target groups
Actors and funding
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Actors
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Funding
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National government
Social insurance
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National funds
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Social partners
Social partners' role in
designing the measure
and form of involvement:
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Trade unions
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Employers' organisations
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Role
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Unknown
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Unknown
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Form
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Not applicable
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Not applicable
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Social partners' role in the
implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
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Unknown
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Main level of involvement: N/A
Involvement
No information available.
Views and reactions
No information available.
Sources
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13 July 2020: Åtgärder inom sjukförsäkringen med anledning av nya coronaviruset (COVID-19 related changes to sickness allowance)
(www.regeringen.se)
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16 November 2020: The number of compensation days for risk groups increased (Antal dagar för ersättning till riskgrupper utökas)
(www.forsakringskassan.se)
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01 December 2020: Socialförsäkringsutskottets betänkande 2020/21:SfU11
(data.riksdagen.se)
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13 January 2021: COVID-19 measures within the social security area (Åtgärder på socialförsäkringsområdet med anledning av coronaviruset)
(www.regeringen.se)
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17 September 2021: Fortsatt beredskap för att hantera COVID-19 pandemin [Continued preparedness to handle the COVID-19 pandemic]
(www.regeringen.se)
