The struggle went on for over a year. When Susanne Pettersson-Graff sought support to take a new step in her career, she had no idea what a protracted nightmare awaited her.
It's so poorly managed. There's no consideration whatsoever.
Like a Kafkaesque labyrinth. For Susanne Pettersson-Graff from Pilgrimsstad in Jämtland, the bright plans turned into absurd bureaucracy.
It started promisingly. Susanne Pettersson-Graff had worked for 27 years at the Employment Agency, and felt it was time to seek further education with the help of the so-called retraining study support introduced in the fall of 2022.
I've always wanted to become a teacher, she says.
The support, in the form of a generous grant, is intended for people in the middle of their working life to strengthen their position in the labor market through education.
But despite meeting all the requirements, she eventually got a cold shoulder. After a year's wait, the decision came that the funds were exhausted for those working in the public sector. Susanne appealed the decision, in vain. The disappointment was great, but she had already chosen to start her education to become a vocational teacher and was doing well with her studies.
Susanne continued to work part-time at the Employment Agency and studied part-time.
Too Late
She has also applied for the support a second time and will likely be approved, having learned from experience and being quicker to apply.
I stayed up all night in front of the computer until 3 am, because you have to be quick when it's your turn in the queue.
But now it's too late.
I've got a full-time job as a vocational teacher starting in the fall, which means I have to decline the support.
In Debt
Another person affected is Jurga Juozapaityté, who says she has gone into debt by 70,000 kronor. While waiting for a decision, Jurga Juozapaityté, a single parent, was forced to take out a regular student loan from CSN. To make ends meet for herself and her then 14-year-old daughter, she also had to borrow money from her mother and sister.
After seven months, the answer came: the application was approved, but there was no support for the months with student loans. As a result, she completely missed out on the much more generous retraining study support for that period.
I read carefully, but it wasn't clear at all that the rules for student loans conflicted with the rules for retraining study support, she says.
She will never forget the day she got the news.
It was in May. It was a sunny day, but in my heart, it was like a black storm. I just cried, I felt so deceived.
The retraining study support is intended for those who want to further educate themselves within their profession or learn a new profession.
The support can be applied for all Swedish education that is eligible for student loans. This can include university or college education, Komvux, folk high school, or vocational college.
To be eligible for the support, you must have worked a total of at least eight of the last 14 years and at least 12 of the last 24 months.
The support consists of a grant of up to 80 percent of the salary, up to a maximum amount, and a loan that can be topped up if desired.
Source: CSN and others.
