If you have a low pension and live in Sweden you may be entitled to a housing supplement. When you apply for a housing supplement, we always check whether or not you are also eligible for financial support for the elderly.
Financial support for the elderly provides support if you are resident in Sweden and have no pension or cannot receive a full pension, for example if you moved to Sweden late in life. It provides support so that you will able to pay for your housing and provide for yourself.
Who can apply?
Housing supplement and financial support for the elderly are benefits based on where you live. To be entitled to these, you need to be a resident of Sweden.
You can apply once you have reached the age of 65 (66 from 2023) and have taken out your full national public pension or equivalent foreign pension. It is common to apply for a housing supplement later in life, for example if you become single. From 2026, the age limit will be gradually increased in line with increasing life expectancy.
You can apply regardless of whether you rent or own your home or property, and you can apply even if you have assets. The size of your housing supplement or financial support for the elderly depends on your income, any assets, your housing cost and whether you live alone or not.
How to apply
You apply for a housing supplement and financial support for the elderly at the Swedish Pensions Agency. The easiest way to apply is online. In some cases, relatives can apply on your behalf. If you are married, cohabiting or are registered partners, you submit a joint application.
When you apply you need to answer questions about housing costs, marital status, income and any assets that exceed SEK 100,000.00. It is important that you provide complete and correct information when you apply so that we can process your case as swiftly as possible.
To find out if you should apply, please use our calculation tool, which is available on the web (only in Swedish), or contact our customer service. Test to see if you are entitled to housing supplement (in Swedish)
Report a change in your circumstances
Keep in mind that you must always report any changes that may affect your housing supplement or financial support for the elderly. This applies to changes in your finances and housing or family circumstances.
It is important that you report changes, in order to make sure that you do not miss out on higher compensation or in order to ensure that you do not receive too much and become liable for repayment. Report changes for housing supplement and financial support for the elderly (in Swedish)
Report if you are moving or travelling abroad
You must report if you move abroad. As a result you will no longer be entitled to a housing supplement or financial support for the elderly. You must also report if you are going to travel abroad for a longer period of time as this may affect your right to a housing supplement or financial support for the elderly.
How long you can stay abroad depends, amongst other things, on how often you travel and how long your stay is. If you plan to be abroad for a longer period than three months, or if you regularly stay abroad, you need to report this. You are welcome to contact our customer service if you have any questions.