Background & Purpose

To reduce social exclusion and help more people find work, the government introduced a requirement for those receiving financial aid to stay active.

The Decision

The Swedish parliament decided that anyone who has received financial aid for three consecutive months must participate in mandatory activities, unless they are already studying or looking for work.

Does this affect you?

  • Long-term financial aid recipients: Individuals who have received aid for three months or more must now participate in mandatory activities to remain eligible for support.
  • Municipal social services: Staff will be responsible for organizing and monitoring the mandatory activities for aid recipients.

In Practice

  • You must participate in activities if you have received financial aid for at least three months in a row.
  • The requirement applies to the time you are not already busy searching for jobs or studying.
  • There are specific exceptions, such as for people under 18, those on sick leave, or parents on parental leave with children under one year old.
  • The new rules will be fully active starting from July 1, 2026.