Swedish Social Insurance Agency September 2011 Responsible Bodies

Swedish Social Insurance Agency September 2011

Responsible Bodies for Social Insurance Parliament and Government (Ministry of Health and Social Affairs) – Legislation(laws and ordinances) Swedish Social Insurance Agency – Decides on social insurance benefits – Provides public service Swedish Pensions Agency – Deals with pension issues September 2011

The Swedish Social Insurance Agency • 54 million pay outs a year (including pensions) • 15 national and 59 local insurance centre • 6 Customer Center and Self Service • Around 260 local offices • Around 12, 900 employees • Stockholm – head office September 2011

Our task Citizens • shall quickly and in a legally secure way receive decisions on the financial support he or she is entitled to • shall receive information so that they understand their rights and obligations • Shall receive support to facilitate the changeover from benefit from health insurance to actively seeking employment and new work September 2011

Social insurance in Sweden • Covers the entire population • Financed through contributions from employers and employees, and thorough taxes via the state budget • Based on the Income Replacement Principle up to a ceiling (the ceiling is currently under discussion) • Guarantee levels (pension and parental insurance) September 2011

Total costs of social insurance by area (pension not included) September 2011

Sickness insurance in Sweden • A rehabilitation chain with precise time limits for the various stages of sick leave • Objective: The level of absence from work because of illness will be low and stable over time • Provide a strong motive for returning to work September 2011

Activity compensation • Aged between 19 and 29 • Work capacity reduced by at least a quarter for at least a year in relation to all work in the whole labour market • Full, three-quarter, half or a quarter compensation • Must take part in vocational rehabilitation • Can take part in activities which are aimed at providing means to improve work capacity September 2011

Our view of transnational exchange • Our general Idea is: • It is important to meet over the boarders and share good practice! – Citizens – Practitioners – Executive- and strategic level September 2011

Sweden has many challenges' regarding young people with disabilities • Barriers is today stopping people with disabilities from participating fully in society. One important barrier is how to enter the labor market. – We would like to learn and share good experiences from other counties how to involve employers and business and how to extend the social economy. September 2011

Sweden has many challenges' regarding young people with disabilities • In order for all people with disabilities to be able to shape their own lives, general support need to be complemented with customised support and service. We need to see the individual! – What experience of good practice exist in other European countries regarding empowerment? September 2011

A Transnational Baltic arena • How can we make it possible to extend and share good practice in the Baltic sea region? • I hope our two important Swedish TN-projects shall establish a good partnership with the polish TN-arena to start a co-creation of a Baltic Transnational arena together for the future • This is one step that could be connected to the Baltic Sea Region Strategy – To stimulate sustainable economic growth – To reduce the economic gaps – Build a regional identity September 2011