Researchers warn of holes in the social safety net

Poverty and debt problems are increasing in Sweden, warns the City Mission in a new survey. DN has reported on this in a previous article. According to the investigation, the Poverty Report 2026, the proportion of people living in material and social poverty has gone from 3 to 7 percent during the period 2021–2025.

The number of people with debt problems is also increasing. About 500,000 people, equivalent to 5 percent of the population, were over-indebted in 2025. That was the highest number in over 20 years.

The city mission points to several explanations for the development. An important factor is that social insurance has become insufficient.

A similar picture is given by professors Ruth Mannelqvist and Sara Stendahl in a project for the research institute SNS from last year. The researchers have looked at whether sickness benefit, sickness benefit and housing allowance provide the social security promised in the law.

- What we did within the framework of the project was to look at the financial protection as it appears in the legislation, says Ruth Mannelqvist, professor at the law department at Umeå University.

She points out that a new social insurance code was introduced in 2011 which consolidated the legislation in this area.

- Its portal paragraph is important. It talks about these rules having to cater for social security, says Ruth Mannelqvist.

The researchers' review shows that this is not really the case anymore.

- Our conclusion is that social protection has been eroded quite substantially in terms of legislation. The changes have taken place over time in more or less large steps regardless of the political color of the government, says Ruth Mannelqvist.

- There is a perception that you have fairly good social protection. But when it's put to the test, we find that this protection leaks quite a lot. There are big holes in the net, she continues.

One change with the help of legislation is that the right to compensation has been lowered. New rules have also been introduced into the law which are difficult for an individual to live up to.

- There have become quite strict evidentiary requirements and the rules are so complicated that they are almost impossible for a single individual to understand or overview, states Ruth Mannelqvist.

The researchers also point out – which the City Mission's report also mentioned – that reclaiming incorrect payments will be extra tough for those who are already vulnerable.

- From July 1 this year, you not only risk paying back what has gone wrong, you also risk a penalty fee and losing the right to compensation for the future, says Ruth Mannelqvist.

- It is enough that you provide incorrect information that you do not understand is incorrect. And then you have to remember that the law is very complicated, she continues.

Another change is for health insurance, where the proof requirements have also been tightened for those who need sickness benefits. Ruth Mannelqvist believes that Försäkringskassan can review the doctor's assessment.

This is not how the system was supposed to be designed. The idea was that this is a right that you acquire when you have a job and contribute to the labor market, she says.