Financial assistance and income support

Are you eligible for financial assistance?

Financial assistance consists of income support according to the national standard and assistance for other living expenses. The support is intended to cover a household’s most basic needs and is the last resort when other options have been tried.

Basic requirements

You may be entitled to financial assistance if you cannot support yourself or have your needs met in another way and:

• You are registered in Boden or are staying here temporarily without your own means.
• You are unemployed, registered with the Public Employment Service, and actively looking for work.
• You are on sick leave and can present a current medical certificate.

Your responsibilities

• Use your own money first, including any savings.
• If you have assets, for example a car or a home, you may need to sell them to support yourself.
• If you live with a partner (cohabiting, married, or registered partner) you have a mutual duty to support each other.
• Apply for other benefits first, such as sickness benefit, parental benefit, housing allowance, child maintenance allowance, or compensation from an unemployment insurance fund.
• If you can work, you must be available to the labour market. The Social Services may require you to actively seek work and take part in measures provided by the municipality or the Public Employment Service.
• If you are cohabiting, married, or a registered partner, you submit a joint application. Your combined income and assets are taken into account.

apply

Make a preliminary calculation based on the national standard at the National Board of Health and Welfare. This shows whether your finances may be below the level for financial assistance. The calculation is indicative and does not replace the municipality’s assessment.

How to apply

You normally apply once per month. Make sure your application is complete and attach the requested documents. By signing, you consent to checks with public authorities and registers. Everyone who applies is registered in the social services register.

After you have applied

Once you have submitted your application, a case officer will contact you and invite you to a meeting. You describe your financial and social situation, and together you make a plan for how you can support yourself.

Reapplication

A reapplication is a new application for a new month when you have already applied within the past six months.
Normally you need to reapply every month for as long as you need support.

How to do it:

• Apply for the current month. Submit early in the month if possible.
• Submit updated documents each time, for example income, expenses, rent statement, decisions from public authorities, and changes in the household.
• Report all changes immediately, as they may affect the decision and the payment.
• Submit the reapplication in the digital service or by paper form to the Social Services reception in City Hall.
• State who your case officer is.

Additional information

Fill in all requested information carefully. If additional information is needed, you will be contacted and told what is missing.

Decision and appeal

When the assessment is complete, you will receive a decision by post approving or rejecting your application. Applications are processed promptly. Processing time may vary depending on your situation.

Repayment of assistance

You may have to repay assistance if you receive income support for the same period for which you also receive another benefit, such as child maintenance allowance, pension, or housing allowance.

If you provide incorrect information or withhold income or assets and therefore receive more income support than you are entitled to, you may have to repay it. You may also be reported under the Swedish Benefit Fraud Act.

Special situations

Studies

Adult students are expected to support themselves primarily through study finance from the Swedish Board of Student Finance. As a rule, you must apply for student grants and student loans.

In acute situations, temporary support may be granted. For the summer break, you must apply for work in good time and do what you can to support yourself. Support can be granted up to the start of studies. If you have worked during the summer and are awaiting income, support may be granted subject to repayment. Plan your finances if you know you will lack income during certain periods.

Housing

The Social Services do not have their own housing and can only help with accommodation in very special cases. If you need housing, you must first try to solve your situation yourself. Contact details for landlords in Boden can be found further down the page.

How much money can you receive?

Income support must cover your and your family’s basic needs. Everyone has the right to a reasonable standard of living under the Social Services Act.

The national standard

The national standard is set by the Government of Sweden and includes costs such as food, clothing, hygiene, and consumables. In addition to the national standard, assistance may be granted for reasonable costs for:

• Rent and household electricity
• Trade union fees and unemployment insurance fund fees
• Travel to and from work and home insurance
• Other necessary costs such as medicines within the high-cost protection, patient fees, broadband, and municipal fees

Preliminary calculation

The municipality makes a calculation based on the national standard issued by the National Board of Health and Welfare, which in turn is based on the Swedish Consumer Agency’s cost data for households of different sizes. You can make your own preliminary calculation with the National Board of Health and Welfare to get an initial idea of whether you may be eligible. The result is indicative and not a guarantee. The municipality’s decision is also affected by factors other than finances.