From and including the turn of the year, it will become more difficult for parents to cheat and get money through temporary parental allowance, so-called VAB, or parental allowance.
The Government has today decided to present a new legislative proposal to address the problem.
We have a generous parental insurance with good opportunities for parents to stay at home with sick children and receive compensation. But the benefit fraud is significant when it comes to both VAB and parental allowance, says Elisabeth Svantesson.
Taking out salary at the same time as VAB
The Ministry of Finance estimates that two billion kronor annually go to incorrect payments. How much is due to carelessness and how much is pure fraud cannot be said. Regardless, the Government expects the new proposal to recover a significant portion of the money.
Two billion is a lot of money that should be used for other things, says Svantesson and continues.
It's about parents who are at home and taking VAB but at the same time taking out a salary. There are certainly those who unintentionally do wrong, but there are also many who cheat and that cheating can never be accepted.
Important to maintain trust
According to Elisabeth Svantesson, it is also important to address the fraud to prevent erosion of trust in the social insurance system
It builds on trust and that we are honest. When we have generous and good systems, it is even more important not to cheat, she says.
According to the proposal, all employers will each month send information to the Tax Agency about employees who have been absent due to parental leave or childcare. Information that will then be forwarded to the Social Insurance Agency.
