Capital: Stokholm
Population: 9.644.864
GDP/ Person: $ 56.956
GDP: $ 538,2 Milliarden
Elderly care
WHO?
The elderly represent a large and growing part of the Swedish population, with current life expectancy estimates at 84 for women and 80 for men. Many elderly are in good health and lead active lives with support services provided by the state or private contractors. Provided you have a Swedish personal identity number, you will be eligible for the same elderly care as all other residents of
Sweden.
WHAT?
A number of welfare systems ensure that elderly citizens are able to lead independent lives. Elderly can live in their own homes for as long as possible thanks to support including meal delivery, cleaning and shopping assistance, and transportation services. Senior housing and retirement homes are also available for those who need more support. Costs are largely subsidised by the state. If you or an elderly parent do not speak Swedish, interpreters can often be provided.
WHEN?
It is usually possible to start receiving elderly care at the age of retirement, or 65. However, this may vary according to various factors; contact your municipality for more information.
HOW?
Contact your municipality or county for information on the support on offer in your area, costs and how to apply for specific services.
Social welfare in Sweden is made up of several organizations and systems dealing with welfare.
It is mostly funded by taxes, and executed by the public sector on all levels of government as well as private organisations. It can be separated into three parts falling under three different ministries.
Social welfare is the responsibility of the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs. Education is the responsibility of the Ministry of Education and Research. The labour market is the responsibility of the Ministry of Employment.
The Ministry of Health and Social Affairs is responsible for welfare. This is defined as financial security in the case of illness, old age and for the family; social services; health care; promotion of health and children's rights; individual help for persons with disabilities and coordination of the national disability policies.

Health care
Sweden's entire population has equal access to the public health care services. The Swedish health care system is publicly funded and run by the county councils. The health care system in
Sweden is financed primarily through taxes levied by county councils and municipalities. The health care providers of the public system are generally owned by the county councils, although the managing of the hospitals is often done by private companies after a public tender. During the last decade several county councils have started using a Fee-for-service system for primary health care under the name "V årdVal".
Dental care
Dental care is not quite as subsidized as other health care, and the dentists decide on their own treatment prices.
WHO?
All residents of Sweden with a Swedish personal identity number who have registered with the
Swedish Social Insurance Agency.
WHAT?
Comprehensive dental care, including orthodontics. All dental care is free of charge for people up to age 20. Adults receive a yearly subsidy.
Social security
The Swedish social security is mainly handled by the Swedish Social Insurance Agency and encompasses many separate benefits.
The major ones are:
• "Barnbidrag" : Monetary support for children up to 16 (support also available for older students)
• "F öräldrapenning" : Benefits to be able to be home from work to take care of their children for up to 480 days per child. It also includes special benefits to care about sick and disabled children.
Parental benefits
WHO?
All parents who have a personal identity number and are registered with the Swedish Social Insurance Agency.
WHAT?
A bonus is paid to parents who split the time evenly.
All children who live in Sweden are entitled to child allowance (barnbidrag), a monthly, taxfree sum paid to parents until the child reaches the age of 16.
After 16, children in fulltime education are entitled to a study allowance (studiebidrag). A special large family supplement is paid to families with two or more children. Further, if your household salary is

below a certain limit, you may be entitled to a housing allowance ( see bostadsbidrag beneath).
Additional benefits are available for parents of children with disabilities or illnesses, both temporary and long-term illnesses.
WHEN?
Parental leave can be taken from 60 days before a child ’s delivery date up until his or her eighth birthday. Other forms of payment are offered throughout childhood, either as a standard payment or on an as-needed basis.
• "Bostadsbidrag": Housing allowances for anyone who otherwise can't afford housing.
Families with children, and people below 29 years of age may be eligible to receive a housing allowance. The amount depends on income, the size of the family, housing costs and house size. At most it is 1.300 SEK.
• "Sjukpenning", "Sjukers ättning" and "Handikappersättning": Benefits if you are ill or disabled and can't work. Working people are entitled to sick pay when ill. The first 14 days (except the first day off) are paid by the employer, the rest by F örsäkringskassan. If an employee's ability to work is permanently reduced, disability payments may be made.
Sick leave benefit
WHO?
All employees in Sweden with a Swedish personal identity number. You must also be registered with the Swedish Social Insurance Agency
WHAT?
When you miss work because of illness, you receive sick leave pay for the days missed, generally at the rate of 80 per cent of your normal salary .
WHEN?
Your first day away from work counts as a
“waiting period”
(karensdag); you do not receive any sickness pay. After the first day, you receive sickness pay from your employer for 13 days at the rate of 80 per cent of your salary. After this period, you will continue to receive 80 per cent of your salary from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency.
•
"Arbetsl
öshetsersättning": Benefits for unemployed (time limited to 300 days, five days a week, which means 60 weeks)
Unemployment benefit
WHO?
Employees in Sweden who have been a member of an unemployment insurance fund (arbetsl
öshetskassa) for at least a year and who have lost their jobs . Being able to stay in
Sweden while unemployed also depends on your immigration status.
WHAT?
Unemployment benefit is based on your previous income level (usually 80 per cent up to a certain limit).
It is your responsibility to sign up for an unemployment insurance fund,

usually administered by trade unions. Your fees and benefits will depend on your field of work and on the fund you choose.
Bear in mind that unemployment benefit is designed to support you during a limited period of time while you apply for a new job. To be eligible, you must be actively looking for a new job and willing to apply for jobs suggested by the Public Employment Service (Arbetsf örmedlingen).
WHEN?
If you become unemployed, you should contact your unemployment insurance fund to find out how to apply for benefit.
HOW?
When you start working in Sweden, investigate if your union offers an unemployment insurance fund (widely known as A-Kassa). Join as soon as you can after starting work and read the terms carefully to find out what to do if you become unemployed.
•
"
Ålderspension", "Garantipension": Benefits for those who have retired.
Pension
WHO?
Retirees are eligible for a guaranteed state pension as well as an employment-based pension . The standard retirement age in Sweden is 65, though some choose to retire as soon as 55.
WHAT?
Throughout your working life, you will accumulate pension that is then guaranteed as a base monthly amount upon retirement. Many employers also make extra monthly payments to a so-called occupational pension, which is based on collective agreements. As such, the
Swedish pension system is often pictured as a pyramid, with your basic, guaranteed income pension forming the base of the pyramid, your employer contributions in the middle, and any personal pension savings at the top.
Part of your basic pension, called the premium pension, is in your control. You can choose to place this part of your pension in any of a number of market-based pension funds.
WHEN?
Regardless of when you retire, the total amount of your pension remains the same. If you choose to go into early retirement, you should therefore be aware that your monthly payments will be reduced accordingly.
It is also possible to keep working beyond the normal retirement age of 65 in order to maintain larger monthly payments.
• "F örsörjningsstöd": Benefits for anyone (incl their children) who otherwise can't get a reasonable standard of living. This is given out purely on a need-bases and handled by each municipality's social service.
If you have no or low income you can apply for welfare from your local municipality. The municipality will look at your economic situation to determine if

you should receive welfare or not. The welfare should be enough to cover things like housing, food, clothing and telephone.
Elderly care
WHO?
The elderly represent a large and growing part of the Swedish population, with current life expectancy estimates at 84 for women and 80 for men . Many elderly are in good health and lead active lives with support services provided by the state or private contractors. Provided you have a Swedish personal identity number, you will be eligible for the same elderly care as all other residents of
Sweden.
WHAT?
A number of welfare systems ensure that elderly citizens are able to lead independent lives. Elderly can live in their own homes for as long as possible thanks to support including meal delivery, cleaning and shopping assistance, and transportation services.
Senior housing and retirement homes are also available for those who need more support. Costs are largely subsidised by the state .
WHEN?
It is usually possible to start receiving elderly care at the age of retirement, or 65. However, this may vary according to various factors.
Quellen: http://work.sweden.se/living-in-sweden/social-benefits/