Benefit recipients could face repayment despite acting in good faith

People paid too much in Swedish social-insurance benefits could have to repay the money even if they neither knew nor should have realised it was wrong, under proposals the government sent for consultation on 7 October.

The proposed system separates liability from the decision to waive repayment. A recipient’s ability to pay, whether the authority contributed to the mistake and whether the person acted in good faith would receive particular consideration when deciding on a waiver.

The inquiry also proposes giving recipients a set period to explain why repayment should be waived. Later grounds could be considered only with a valid excuse.

Giving incorrect information or failing to report a change would normally prevent a waiver, with exceptions where the person could not reasonably have understood the duty or where exceptional grounds apply.

The proposals are not law. The Social Affairs Ministry’s consultation closes on 22 January 2027. The inquiry, published in June, proposes that the new rules start on 1 January 2028.

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