Försäkringskassan

Försäkringskassan, the Swedish Social Insurance Agency, is a government agency in Sweden responsible for administering the national social insurance system. Its core mission is to provide financial protection for residents by administering benefits related to illness, disability, parenthood, children and housing, as well as other social support programs. The agency operates under Swedish government oversight and administers benefits funded by social insurance contributions and government budgets.

Key benefits include sjukpenning (sickness benefit), rehabiliteringsersättning and sjuk- och aktivitetsersättning (disability-related benefits), föräldrapenning (parental leave), barnbidrag and bostadsbidrag (child allowance and housing support), and vårdbidrag (care allowance) for certain care needs. Försäkringskassan also handles other forms of support and coordinates with healthcare and social services to determine entitlement and rehabilitation plans.

Applications and decisions are made by case officers who verify eligibility, calculate benefit levels, and issue payments. The agency uses digital services, such as Mina sidor, to apply, report changes, and track cases. Decisions can be appealed to administrative courts, and the agency provides information and guidance to residents in various languages.

Internationally, Försäkringskassan participates in EU/EEA and international rules that coordinate social security for people who move between countries, ensuring continuity of rights for cross-border workers and residents.

History and structure: Försäkringskassan was established in 2005 through reforms that merged several earlier authorities to centralize social insurance administration. Its headquarters are in Stockholm, with a nationwide network of offices and staff. It operates as a central government agency with responsibility for administering Sweden's social protection system.