Factsheet for measure
SE-2021-27/2013
–
Updated
– measures in Sweden
Temporarily increased housing allowance for families with children
Tillfälligt tilläggsbidrag till barnfamiljer inom bostadsbidraget
Background information
The economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic drastically impacted families. In order to support them, the government decided to temporarily strengthen the housing allowance for families.
The legal basis of this strengthened support is an amendment of the Social Insurance Code (2010:11) (in Swedish 'Socialförsäkringsbalken').
In Sweden, housing allowances for families are available for low-income families with children under the age of 18 living at the same household. The amount of support depends on income and fixed costs.
Content of measure
Families that receive housing allowance received an additional amount between 1 July 2020 and 31 December 2020. This measure was renewed in 2021 and families received additional housing allowance between 1 September 2021 and 31 December 2021. The additional amount is 25% of the regular housing allowance.
The amount of housing allowance depends on income, number of children, size of the apartment or house, rent, and other similar costs.
The eligible families receive the additional amount automatically, there is no separate application process.
Housing allowance for families is administrated by the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan).
The estimated cost of this measure in 2021 is SEK 560 million (around €56 million).
Updates
The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.
|
29 August 2024
|
The measure has been prolonged and reintroduced several times since its establishment. Latest in August 2024, the Ministry of Social Affairs proposed that the allowance be extended and that the maximum amount of the supplementary allowance will be SEK 1 325 (€114) per month. Simultaneously, this means that the allowance is reduced from 40 to 25% of the regular housing allowance. The current level of 40% is valid until 31 December of 2024, and the new proposed level would apply until 30 June 2025. The proposal is part of the Government's Fall Fiscal Policy Bill of 2024, that will need to be passed by the Swedish parliament by end of December 2024.
|
|
01 July 2022
|
The measure was reintroduced in 2022 due to the war in Ukraine and its effects on costs of living. The content of the measure remains the same. However, the Government has put forward a proposal for further prolonging the measure as well as rising the additional amount. The proposal is part of the Government’s Spring Fiscal Policy Bill of 2023, which will be decided upon by the Swedish parliament (Sveriges Riksdag) in June 2023.
|
Use of measure
Between 1 July 2020 and 31 December 2020 (the first time this measure was applied), 138 families received an increased housing allowance. The average amount of the additional support was SEK 699 (€70). The average monthly allowance including the additional support was SEK 3,500 (around €350).
Target groups
Actors and funding
|
Actors
|
Funding
|
National government
Social insurance
|
National funds
|
Social partners
Social partners' role in
designing the measure
and form of involvement:
|
Trade unions
|
Employers' organisations
|
|
Role
|
Unknown
|
Unknown
|
|
Form
|
Not applicable
|
Not applicable
|
Social partners' role in the
implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
-
Unknown
-
Main level of involvement: N/A
Involvement
No information available.
Views and reactions
No information available.
Sources
-
23 March 2021: Tillfälligt tilläggsbidrag till barnfamiljer inom bostadsbidraget med anledning av covid-19 [Temporarily strenghtened housing allowance for families]
(www.regeringen.se)
-
23 March 2023: Regeringskansliet (2023), "Förlängning och höjning av det tillfälliga tilläggsbidraget till barnfamiljer inom bostadsbidraget med anledning av ökade levnadsomkostnader"
(regeringen.se)
-
29 August 2024: Regeringskansliet (2024) 'Förlängning och nedtrappning av det tillfälliga tilläggsbidraget till barnfamiljer inom bostadsbidraget'
(www.regeringen.se)
