Swedish Social Democrats pledge to scrap benefit cap

Sweden's Social Democrats want to stop the benefit cap scheduled to take effect next year. Party leader Magdalena Andersson gave a direct answer when asked whether a future Social Democratic government would repeal it: “Yes, it cannot be justified.”

Parliament has approved the government's proposal for the cap to enter force on January 1, 2027. The measure would tighten the national standard for social assistance and prevent municipalities from adding their own supplements. It would also introduce a restriction on social assistance from a person's fourth child onward.

Andersson said the policy would hit families whose parents are doing what is expected of them. “People who do everything right, who study or work 40 hours a week, it is unreasonable that their children should go to bed hungry,” she told TT.

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Yes, it cannot be justified.

The Social Democrats voted against the cap when parliament decided on it earlier in the summer. The Left Party and Green Party also opposed it, while the Centre Party wanted municipalities to have greater room to depart from the cap in special circumstances.

The cap forms part of the government's wider benefit reform. A separate activity requirement took effect during the summer, and the Social Democrats support that measure. It requires people to take part in activities aimed at helping them find work, while social welfare committees may refuse or reduce assistance if they do not. Municipalities must also ensure that meaningful activities are available.

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People who do everything right, who study or work 40 hours a week, it is unreasonable that their children should go to bed hungry.