Child allowance in Sweden

Families with children who live in Sweden, or who are covered by social insurance in Sweden, are entitled to a financial benefit. In Sweden, the child allowance benefit is called “barnbidrag” and large-family supplement is called “flerbarnstillägg”.

What is child allowance in Sweden?

Child allowance (barnbidrag) is a financial support that is paid to parents who live and have children in Sweden. If you have two or more children for whom you receive child allowance, you automatically also receive a large-family supplement.

The large-family supplement is a supplement to the child allowance that gives extra financial compensation to families with more than one child, as the costs are normally greater when you have more children. The amount of child allowance and large-family supplement depends on how many children you have.

Am I entitled to child allowance and large-family supplement in Sweden?

You receive child allowance if you are covered by social insurance in Sweden, and you are the parent or legal guardian of a child or children aged under 16. If you are covered by social insurance in a country, it is that country’s regulations that determine whether you are entitled to social insurance benefits.

You do not need to work to receive child allowance for your child. You receive child allowance even if you are a jobseeker or a student.

If you work in Sweden and you are the parent or legal guardian of a child in another Nordic country, you may be entitled to child allowance from Sweden. If the parents work in separate countries, they may be entitled to child allowance from both countries. It is normally the country where the child lives that pays child allowance for the child.

When is child allowance paid in Sweden?

Child allowance and large-family supplement is generally paid on the 20th of each month, assuming this date is not a public holiday or a Saturday or Sunday.

Who is child allowance paid to?

Child allowance and large-family supplement is paid to parents who live and have children in Sweden. Parents receive the allowance up to and including the quarter of the year in which the child’s 16th birthday falls.

If the child was born on 1 March 2014 or later, half of the child allowance and large-family supplement is paid to each parent.

For older children, the benefits are paid only to one of the parents. If you want to share the payment, or change who is to receive the payment, contact Försäkringskassan in Sweden and ask them to change the arrangement.

If you are a single parent or guardian, you receive the entire allowance.

How much can I receive as child allowance and large-family supplement?

You can find the current rates for child allowance and large-family supplement in Sweden on the Försäkringskassan website.

You pay no tax on child allowance or large-family supplement.

You do not need to apply for child allowance in Sweden. If you move to Sweden together with children under 16, Försäkringskassan will contact you when you have been listed in the Swedish Population Register to assess whether you and your children will be covered by social insurance in Sweden, and thereby be entitled to child allowance and large-family supplement.

If you are entitled to child allowance, this is paid automatically when you are registered as living in Sweden. You also receive automatic large-family supplement every month if you have at least two children.

If anyone in the family moves to or starts to work in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland, contact Försäkringskassan for information on how this affects your child allowance.

In which country is child allowance paid if the child’s parents are covered by social insurance in different countries?

EU/EEA regulations include special provisions for coordination of family benefits if you, as parents, or your children are covered by social insurance in different Nordic countries.

It is normally the country of residence that pays child allowance, unless both parents live with the family in Sweden and both work in another Nordic country.

If you move from Sweden to another country, you will generally no longer be entitled to Swedish child allowance and large-family supplement. However, some people may be entitled to child allowance even if the period abroad is longer than six months.

You must inform Försäkringskassan if you or the child will be living abroad for more than six months. If you forget to do this, you may have to pay the money back.

Who should I contact if I have questions?

You can call the Försäkringskassan Customer Centre at +46 (0)771-524 524, or look on the Försäkringskassan website if you have questions about what applies for you and your child.