Immigrants who come to Sweden must qualify for welfare. You must have lived here for at least five years before you can receive things like child benefit and parental allowance, the government proposes.
Ludvig Aspling (SD) wants to send a signal to immigrants who come here only to take advantage of the benefits. “Please choose another country,” he says.Photo: Claudio Bresciani/TT
Minister of Finance Elisabeth Svantesson (M) presents the reform at a press conference.
– It is not obvious that anyone who immigrates to Sweden from day one should have access to all parts of our social security system. On the contrary, we think it is reasonable that they do not have it, she says.
Anyone who wants to receive things like child benefit, housing benefit, parental benefit and sickness benefit must have lived in Sweden for five years. However, periods of residence in other EU countries will also be counted, as a result of EU law.
“Choose another country”
There should be a fast track for people who are working. This requires working for six consecutive months, with a salary of just over 40,000 SEK per month, or working for 12 of the last 24 months with a salary of just under 21,000 SEK per month, to receive the grants.
The government sets the latter salary requirement lower than the inquiry’s proposal of just over 29,000 SEK per month.
– It is to better match salary levels in the labor market, says SD’s migration policy spokesperson Ludvig Aspling.
The new rules will be introduced on January 1, 2027, and only immigrants who arrive after that will be covered.
– With this, we also send a signal to those who choose to seek asylum in Sweden in order to be able to take advantage of these benefits and avoid having to support themselves, to please choose another country, says Aspling.
He hopes that the reform will lead to fewer asylum seekers coming to Sweden.
– This is especially true for people who tend to come here with large families with four or five children. Now child allowance and large child allowance are disappearing for this group, it will make a huge difference.
Can’t proceed
In total, it is estimated that approximately 42,000 adults will need to qualify five years after the reform is introduced.
At the same time, the government chooses not to implement the investigator’s proposal that immigrants must also qualify to receive financial assistance (social benefits).
Nor is the proposal for qualification to receive assistance compensation being taken forward.
The Green Party is critical of the reform, which they believe will create a new level of poverty in Sweden.
“The government is simultaneously risking the safety and well-being of tens of thousands of children,” says Malte Tängmark Roos (MP) in a comment.
