Activity compensation for reduced work capacity
Sickness compensation is compensation you can receive if you are between the ages of 19 and 29 and will not be able to work for at least one year due to sickness or a disability. During the time of activity compensation, you can receive support and help in returning to work.
Am I eligible for activity compensation?
You can receive activity compensation from July of the year you turn 19 and if you have a sickness or disability and
- are unable to work now and for at least one year in any work in the entire labour market. This also applies to, for example, adapted work with a wage subsidy.
- have a work capacity that is reduced completely or by three-fourths, half or one-fourth.
- are insured in Sweden. You are insured in Sweden if you live or work here. You may have lived or worked in another country and still be insured in Sweden. If you lived or worked in Sweden, you may be entitled to activity compensation even if you now live in another country. Call our Customer Centre at 0771‑524 524 to learn what applies in your case.
Activity compensation can be granted for one to three years depending on how long your work capacity is reduced.
Keep in mind that you may have other insurance coverage
If you receive activity compensation, you may sometimes receive money from insurance coverage you have through your job or union. Ask them what applies for you.
How do I apply?
1. Apply on My pages (Mina sidor)
2. Your doctor or you must submit a medical statement
Most often, your doctor will send us a medical statement describing your illness or functional capacity. In such cases, you do not need to do anything. If your doctor does not do so, please submit a medical statement via Mina intyg (My certificates) on 1177 Vårdguiden.
3. You will be assigned an administrator
Once we have received your application, an administrator will be assigned to investigate your application. He or she will contact you either by mail or phone. You will also be told at that time if any additional documents or information are needed.
If you have given another person power of attorney to handle your case, the administrator may need to speak with you anyway.
4. You will receive a decision
It normally takes 4 months before you receive a decision on activity compensation. However, it may take longer if the necessary documentation is missing, such as a medical statement.
- If your application is granted, your administrator will plan with you what you should while you are receiving activity compensation.
- If your application is rejected, your administrator will offer you a meeting with the Swedish Public Employment Service. The purpose of the meeting is to let you know how the Swedish Public Employment Service can support you and give you information about the conditions of unemployment insurance.
5. Disbursement
Information about when you receive your payments:
Utbetalningsdatum och handläggningstider (in Swedish)
External link.
You may be entitled to a housing supplement
If you receive activity compensation, you may be entitled to housing supplement.
You will receive a benefits certificate
When you have been granted activity compensation, we will send you a benefits certificate together with the decision. With the benefits certificate, you can get discounts from certain companies. The companies themselves decide whether they will give a discount, so we have no knowledge as to which companies give discounts.
If you need a new benefits certificate, you can call Försäkringskassan and order it.
What happens when I have activity compensation?
While you are receiving activity compensation, you and your administrator at Försäkringskassan will work together to plan how you can begin working or studying. If you are able to participate in occupational rehabilitation, you are obligated to participate based on your ability. Work-oriented rehabilitation is an effort that you need to start working, such as work training in a workplace. In order for you to receive the right efforts, Försäkringskassan cooperates with the Swedish Public Employment Service.
If you want to start working, or work more than you do, you should always call your administrator at Försäkringskassan. You plan together and the administrator will help you so that you get the right compensation.
Call us if anything changes
If you are receiving activity compensation, you must call us and let us know if you
- begin working or studying
- begin working at a greater scope than before, for example if you receive one-half compensation but begin working full time.
- receive a new or modified foreign pension, annuity, or such
- move abroad
- are given an additional volunteer task or the task changes in scope
- you continue working after your decision on dormant activity compensation has expired
- your work capacity improves, even if you do not work
Changes related to how much you work must be reported in advance. Other changes must be reported as soon as you find out about them. If you do not report changes, you may be obligated to pay back money if you received too much or received money that you were actually not entitled to.
When the activity compensation ends
Activity compensation is always time-limited. When the activity compensation period ends, there are different options and you will need to do some things.
Important thing to do – protect your right to receive sickness benefit
If you are unemployed, you must register with the Swedish Public Employment Service as a jobseeker on the first weekday of the month in which the activity compensation ends. You do this to protect your right to receive sickness benefit if you become ill later on. If you worked before you received activity compensation, the sickness benefit is based on your previous sickness benefit qualifying income (SGI).
If you have not worked previously and you have had activity compensation up to and including the month before you turned 30, you may be entitled to sickness benefit in special cases.
Your administrator can give you more information.
You can also read more in the SGI Guide.
