Sweden's Social Insurance Agency, Försäkringskassan, has implemented a significant reduction in the application period for vård av barn (vab) benefits, according to reports from multiple sources. The application deadline has been shortened from 90 days to just 30 days from the first day of a child's illness. Fredrika Järnehall Box, area manager at Försäkringskassan, reportedly stated that the change aims to reduce the risk of incorrect payments and make it easier to process applications correctly.
The new rule applies to all parents seeking compensation for caring for sick children, though exceptions may exist for cases involving seriously ill children. The policy change also affects parents applying for the ten-day compensation following a child's birth. According to the agency, many parents previously made errors regarding the dates they cared for sick children, and the shortened application window is intended to address this issue.
the change aims to reduce the risk of incorrect payments and make it easier to process applications correctly
The change took effect on April 1, 2026, marking a substantial reduction in the time parents have to submit their vab applications.