Child allowance in Sweden
Families with children who live in Sweden and are covered by social insurance in Sweden are entitled to financial benefits. In Sweden, the child allowance benefit is called “barnbidrag” and large-family supplement is called “flerbarnstillägg”. Even families that live in another Nordic country may be entitled to child allowance and other family-related benefits in Sweden if one or both parents work or have a pension in Sweden.
What is child allowance in Sweden?
Child allowance (barnbidrag) is a financial support 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.
Are you 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 are generally paid on the 20th of each month, assuming this date is not a public holiday or a Saturday or Sunday, in which case the benefit is paid the day before.
Who is child allowance paid to?
Child allowance and large family supplement are paid to parents who live and have children in Sweden. The parents do not need to apply for the allowance, and receive it until the three-month period in which the child has their 16th birthday.
If the child was born on 1 March 2014 or later, the child allowance and large-family supplement are divided between the parents if they have joint custody.
For older children, the benefit is paid to only one of the parents. If you wish to share the payment or change who is to receive the benefit, you can change the arrangement on the Försäkringskassan website.
If you have single custody, you receive the entire benefit.
How much is the child allowance and large-family supplement in Sweden?
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.
How do you apply for child allowance in Sweden?
If you move to Sweden with children under 16, you must provide information to Försäkringskassan in order to receive child allowance. You do this when you are registered in the Swedish Population Register.
If you are entitled to child allowance, this is paid once you are registered in the Swedish Population Register If you have at least two children you also receive large-family supplement every month.
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.
On the Försäkringskassan website, you can read about how to provide information so that you can receive child allowance, and about what applies if you move to or start to work in another country.
In which country is child allowance paid when 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.
In general, it is the country of residence that pays child allowance, assuming that one of the parents also works there. If both parents live with the family in Sweden and both work in another Nordic country, it is primarily the country in which they work that pays the child allowance.
If you are resident in Sweden with your children, and both parents work in another Nordic country, it is the country in which you work that pays child allowance.
If you are resident in Sweden with your children, and one parent works in Sweden while the other works in another Nordic country, it is normally Sweden, where the child lives, that pays the child allowance.
If the child allowance from the other country exceeds the amount payable in Sweden, the social insurance agency in the other Nordic country will pay a supplement corresponding to the difference. Contact the social insurance agency in the country where the child lives for further information about how to apply for the supplementary amount.
If the parent living in Sweden does not work, the family is normally entitled to child allowance or corresponding benefit, and other family benefits, from the Nordic country in which the other parent works.
If the family lives in another Nordic country, and one parent works in the country of residence while the other parent works in Sweden, it is generally the country of residence that pays the child allowance.
If only one parent is working, and does so in Sweden, it is Sweden that pays child allowance.
If both parents work in Sweden, it is Sweden that pays child allowance.
Are you entitled to child allowance if you move from Sweden?
If you move from Sweden to another country, you are generally no longer entitled to Swedish child allowance and large-family supplement. However, certain people may be entitled to child allowance even if the residence abroad is longer than six months.
You must inform Försäkringskassan if you or your child will be living abroad for longer than six months, or staying abroad in shorter periods for more than six months. If you forget to do so and receive money to which you are not entitled, you may be instructed to repay the money. You may also be reported on suspicion of benefit fraud.
Who should you contact if you 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.
More information
Please fill in our contact form if you have any questions or if you have encountered an obstacle in another Nordic country.
NB! If you have questions regarding the processing of a specific case or application, or other personal matters, please contact the relevant authority directly.
