Försäkringskassan: the letters and the rules
The phrases in Försäkringskassan's decisions and on its website — qualifying income, reduced work capacity, the rehabilitation chain, appeals — plus how people actually talk about VAB and parental days.
- 1
den sjukpenninggrundande inkomsten
the sickness-benefit qualifying income
Tip: SGI — everything is calculated from it; protect it when you change jobs.
- 2
nedsatt arbetsförmåga
reduced work capacity
Tip: The legal test for sickness benefit: not 'sick', but 'unable to work'.
- 3
att vara sjukskriven på deltid
to be on part-time sick leave
Tip: 25/50/75% are the steps.
- 4
rehabiliteringskedjan
the rehabilitation chain
Tip: Day 90 and day 180 are the checkpoints where the assessment gets stricter.
- 5
att prövas mot hela arbetsmarknaden
to be assessed against the whole labour market
Tip: After day 180: can you do any job, not just your own.
- 6
ett arbetsgivarintyg
an employer's certificate
Tip: Employer states hours and pay; needed for several benefits.
- 7
en begäran om komplettering
a request for supplementary information
Tip: The letter that pauses your case until you answer.
- 8
ärendet handläggs
the case is being processed
Tip: Passive 'handläggs' — the status you'll see for weeks.
- 9
handläggningstiden
the processing time
Tip: Published per benefit on the website; often 30 days.
- 10
att begära omprövning
to request a reconsideration
Tip: Step one before a formal appeal; within two months.
- 11
att överklaga till förvaltningsrätten
to appeal to the administrative court
Tip: Step two, if the reconsideration fails.
- 12
att bli beviljad ersättningen
to be granted the benefit
Tip: 'bevilja' = grant; the good letter.
- 13
att få avslag på ansökan
to be refused the benefit
Tip: 'få avslag på' = be refused.
- 14
att bli återbetalningsskyldig
to be liable to repay
Tip: When they paid too much — it happens with VAB.
- 15
att anmäla ändrade förhållanden
to report a change of circumstances
Tip: New job, new income, moved in together — you must tell them.
- 16
dagarna på lägstanivå
the days on the basic level
Tip: 90 of the 480 parental days are paid at the flat minimum.
- 17
dagarna på sjukpenningnivå
the days on the sickness-benefit level
Tip: The 390 'proper' parental days, ~80% of income.
- 18
de reserverade dagarna
the reserved days
Tip: 90 days locked to each parent — use them or lose them.
- 19
att överlåta dagar till den andra föräldern
to transfer days to the other parent
Tip: 'överlåta' = transfer/sign over; done in Mina sidor.
- 20
att ta ut föräldraledigheten i perioder
to take parental leave in chunks
Tip: 'ta ut' = take out (days); up to three periods a year by right.
- 21
de tio dagarna vid födseln
the ten days at the birth
Tip: The other parent's paid days right after the birth.
- 22
att vabba
to stay home with a sick child
Tip: Verb from VAB; 'jag vabbar imorgon' is a complete sentence at work.
- 23
att anmäla vab samma dag
to report VAB the same day
Tip: Anmäl first, ansök later — order matters.
- 24
att vobba
to VAB in bad faith
Tip: Working from home while 'vabbing' — a word Swedes use with a grin.
- 25
graviditetspenningen
the pregnancy benefit
Tip: For jobs you cannot do late in pregnancy.
- 26
den tillfälliga föräldrapenningen
the temporary parental benefit
Tip: The official name for VAB money.
- 27
bostadstillägget
the housing supplement
Tip: For pensioners and people on sickness compensation — not the same as bostadsbidrag.
- 28
sjukersättning
sickness compensation (long-term)
Tip: The old 'early retirement'; permanent reduced capacity.
- 29
aktivitetsersättning
activity compensation
Tip: Same thing for ages 19–29.
- 30
min handläggare ringer aldrig tillbaka
my case officer never calls back
Tip: 'ringa tillbaka' = call back; a national complaint.