2024-03-202023/24:SoU26 · p.1SoUHealth & social services
The standardized parental deduction
The standardised parental deduction in personal assistance
What's at stake: The parental deduction reduces the assistance a child can be granted, because part of the need for help is counted as ordinary parental responsibility. How broadly the deduction is applied determines how many assistance hours families of children with disabilities receive and how much care parents must provide themselves, and unclear rules mean assessments can differ between municipalities and between caseworkers.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether the Riksdag should now demand that the scope of the standardised parental deduction be changed so that children with disabilities receive more personal assistance, or whether the ongoing reviews of how the deduction is applied should be awaited before the rules are changed.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motions but welcomes the government's initiative, since there are indications that the rules are being applied differently from what was intended when the law was adopted. It notes that the Swedish Social Insurance Inspectorate recommends clarifying the rules, that the legislation and preparatory work describe unclearly how the standard deduction is to be made, and that the Social Insurance Agency has been tasked with following up how the change has affected entitlement to assistance benefit. The committee welcomes that the Government Offices are analysing the parental deduction even before that report is delivered, and considers that the government should take the necessary measures as soon as the analysis is complete so that the legislature's intentions are followed.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (S, V, C, MP)
The dissenters (S, V, C, MP) want to change the scope of the parental deduction in order to secure personal assistance for children with disabilities.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 1 by S, V, C, MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have gone the other way
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: LLiberalerna, SDSverigedemokraterna
Ja 147–146Nej 74–219
Counterfactual: the parties above are moved to the position their own documents explicitly point at, carrying their whole contingent present. Every other party keeps its real figures, including dissenters and absentees.
How the AI parties would have voted
For each party: what its own plan – election manifesto and party programme – argues for in this case, next to how the party actually voted. The AI can only answer Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| AI | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | No 0/18/0/6 | match | confidence: high | explicit |
| S | No | No 0/91/0/15 | match | confidence: high | explicit |
| MP | No | No 0/15/0/3 | match | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | No | No 0/21/0/3 | match | confidence: high | explicit |
| L | No | Yes 11/0/0/5 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| KD | No | Yes 15/0/0/4 | differs | confidence: high | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 58/0/0/10 | differs | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 62/0/0/10 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
Committee proposal
Parliament rejects the motions 2023/24:1882 by Ulrika Westerlund et al. (MP) petition 7.1, 2023/24:2617 by Fredrik Lundh Sammeli et al. (S) petition 118 and 2023/24:2650 by Carina Ståhl Herrstedt et al. (SD) petition 2.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2023/24:1882 av Ulrika Westerlund m.fl. (MP) yrkande 7.1, 2023/24:2617 av Fredrik Lundh Sammeli m.fl. (S) yrkande 118 och 2023/24:2650 av Carina Ståhl Herrstedt m.fl. (SD) yrkande 2.
Riksdag decision: Parliament rejected three proposals in motions about the standardized parental deduction from the general motion period 2023 citing ongoing work.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to change the scope of the parental deduction to ensure personal assistance for children with disabilities. (S, V, C, MP) — Reservation 1
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan demands that attacks on the right to live like others are combated and that LSS services and personal assistance are instead strengthened and developed.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan demands that attacks on the right to live like others are combated and that LSS services and personal assistance are instead strengthened and developed. A standard deduction that in application cuts off children's assistance is such an attack, and the plan establishes that children with non-typical functionality shall have the support they need. Children's best interests shall moreover come first.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att attackerna mot rätten att leva som andra bekämpas och att LSS-insatser och personlig assistans i stället stärks och utvecklas. Ett schablonavdrag som i tillämpningen skär bort barns assistans är en sådan attack, och planen slår fast att barn med normbrytande funktionalitet ska ha det stöd som behövs. Barnens bästa ska dessutom komma i första rummet.
- strengthened personal assistancedecisive»och LSS-insatser och personlig assiststans istället stärkas och utvecklas.« (party programme ↗)“and LSS services and personal assistance are instead strengthened and developed.”
- support for children with disabilities»Barn med normbrytande funktionalitet ska ha det stöd« (party programme ↗)“Children with non-typical functionality shall have the support”
- reliable support with disability»På samma sätt ska du som lever med funktionsnedsättning kunna lita på att du får det stöd du behöver« (2022 manifesto ↗)“In the same way you who live with a disability shall be able to rely on receiving the support you need”
- children's best interests first»Vänsterpartiets politik ska utformas så att barnens bästa kommer i första rummet.« (party programme ↗)“Left Party policy shall be designed so that children's best interests come first.”
The election manifesto explicitly promises to secure the right to personal assistance and that people with disabilities should be able to live their lives like others.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto explicitly promises to secure the right to personal assistance and that people with disabilities should be able to live their lives like others. A flat-rate parental deduction which in practice cuts children's assistance runs counter to this commitment. The party programme's demand that the best interests of the child be considered in all decisions points in the same direction.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet lovar uttryckligen att säkra rätten till personlig assistans och att personer med funktionsnedsättning ska kunna leva sitt liv som andra. Ett schabloniserat föräldraavdrag som i tillämpningen skär bort barns assistans går emot detta åtagande. Partiprogrammets krav att barnens bästa ska beaktas vid alla beslut pekar åt samma håll.
- secure the right to personal assistancedecisive»Vi ska säkra rätten till personlig assistans och arbeta vidare med förslagen om att förbättra sjukersättningen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We shall secure the right to personal assistance and continue work on proposals to improve sickness benefits.”
- live their lives like others»Personer med funktionsnedsättning ska kunna leva sitt liv som andra. Arbete och sysselsättning är centralt för delaktigheten i samhället.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“People with disabilities should be able to live their lives like others. Work and employment are central to participation in society.”
- the child's best interests in all decisions»Alla barn ska ha rätt till en trygg uppväxt i enlighet med FN:s barnkonvention. Barnens bästa ska beaktas vid alla beslut.« (party programme ↗)“All children have the right to a secure upbringing in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The best interests of the child must be considered in all decisions.”
- assistance should be protected against profit-seeking»Vinstjakten inom assistansen ska motverkas, liksom att brukare eller personliga assistenter utnyttjas i kriminella syften.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The pursuit of profit within assistance should be counteracted, as should the exploitation of users or personal assistants for criminal purposes.”
The election manifesto explicitly demands that the LSS (Act on Support and Service for Persons with Certain Disabilities) be clarified so that people receive the support they need and have a right to, which is precisely what the counter-proposal wishes to achieve by changing the scope of parental deductions.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto explicitly demands that the LSS (Act on Support and Service for Persons with Certain Disabilities) be clarified so that people receive the support they need and have a right to, which is precisely what the counter-proposal wishes to achieve by changing the scope of parental deductions. The plan also wishes to improve support for persons with disabilities regardless of where in the country you live, and the party programme cherishes the assistance reform. A standard deduction that in practice cuts away children's assistance contradicts these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver uttryckligen att LSS förtydligas så att människor får det stöd de behöver och har rätt till, vilket är precis vad motförslaget vill uppnå genom att ändra föräldraavdragets omfattning. Planen vill också förbättra stödet för personer med funktionsnedsättning oavsett var i landet man bor, och partiprogrammet värnar assistansreformen. Ett schablonavdrag som i tillämpningen skär bort barns assistans strider mot dessa åtaganden.
- clarified LSS and assistancedecisive»att lagen om stöd och service till vissa funktionshindrade (LSS) förtydligas och statligt huvudmannaskap införs i den personliga assistansen så att människor får det stöd de behöver och har rätt till.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“that the Act on Support and Service for Persons with Certain Disabilities (LSS) is clarified and state governance is introduced in personal assistance so that people receive the support they need and have a right to.”
- strengthened disability support»förbättra stödet för personer med funktionsnedsättning och sällsynta diagnoser oavsett var du bor i landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“improve support for persons with disabilities and rare diagnoses regardless of where you live in the country.”
- cherished assistance reform»assistansreformen som möjliggör ett tillgängligt liv« (party programme ↗)“the assistance reform that enables an accessible life”
The election manifesto explicitly promises that anyone with a disability shall get the support they need and that the state shall take greater responsibility for LSS to function.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto explicitly promises that anyone with a disability shall get the support they need and that the state shall take greater responsibility for LSS to function. A schematized parental deduction that in application cuts off support for disabled children contradicts this commitment. The plan therefore supports the demand to change the deduction's scope.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet lovar uttryckligen att den som har en funktionsnedsättning ska få det stöd hen behöver och att staten ska ta ett större ansvar för att LSS fungerar. Ett schabloniserat föräldraavdrag som i tillämpningen skär bort assistans för barn med funktionsnedsättning strider mot det åtagandet. Planen stöder därför kravet på att avdragets omfattning ändras.
- state responsibility for LSSdecisive»Du som har en funktionsnedsättning ska få det stöd du behöver, och staten ska ta ett större ansvar för att LSS fungerar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“You who have a disability shall get the support you need, and the state shall take greater responsibility for LSS to function.”
- full accessibility»Tillgängligheten är avgörande för människor med olika funktionsnedsättningar.« (party programme ↗)“Accessibility is crucial for people with various disabilities.”
- the child's right»Särskilt viktigt är att värna varje barns rätt att bli respekterad och att bli sedd för den man är.« (party programme ↗)“Particularly important is to protect every child's right to be respected and to be seen for who they are.”
- support according to need»psykisk ohälsa eller missbruksproblem måste ha inflytande över sitt liv och få det stöd som behövs« (party programme ↗)“mental ill-health or substance abuse problems must have influence over their life and get the support needed”
The plan calls the shortcomings in today's assistance allowance so serious that a crisis commission is required, and demands that the personal right to assistance be protected by law and that equality in assessments be improved.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan calls the shortcomings in today's assistance allowance so serious that a crisis commission is required, and demands that the personal right to assistance be protected by law and that equality in assessments be improved. A standard deduction that in application cuts away children's assistance hits precisely that commitment. The plan also wants LSS basic intentions to be restored and that support for children be designed so that it benefits the whole family.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kallar bristerna i dagens assistansersättning så allvarliga att det krävs en kriskommission, och kräver att den personliga rättigheten till assistans värnas i lag och att likvärdigheten i bedömningarna förbättras. Ett schablonavdrag som i tillämpningen skär bort barns assistans träffar precis det åtagandet. Planen vill också att LSS grundintentioner återupprättas och att insatser för barn utformas så att de gynnar hela familjen.
- restore assistancedecisive»Bristerna i dagens assistansersättning – vårt viktigaste stöd till många med funktionsnedsättning – är så allvarliga att det krävs en kriskommission.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The shortcomings in today's assistance allowance – our most important support for many with disabilities – are so serious that a crisis commission is required.”
- the right to assistance in law»rättigheten till assistans ska värnas i lag och likvärdigheten i bedömningarna förbättras« (party programme ↗)“the right to assistance shall be protected by law and equality in assessments shall be improved”
- restore LSS basic intentions»Grundintentionerna i lagen om stöd och service (LSS) behöver återupprättas och lagen förtydligas« (party programme ↗)“The basic intentions of the Act on Support and Service (LSS) need to be restored and the law clarified”
- support that benefits the whole family»funktionsnedsättning ska utformas så att de skapar goda förutsättningar för hela familjen« (party programme ↗)“disability shall be designed so that they create good conditions for the whole family”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The plan requires a rights law that creates conditions for good living conditions and that support and services are designed according to the individual's needs, with particular attention to children with disabilities.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires a rights law that creates conditions for good living conditions and that support and services are designed according to the individual's needs, with particular attention to children with disabilities. Help to relatives shall be supportive and complementary, not substitutive, which argues against a standard deduction that shifts responsibility to parents. The counter-proposal's requirement follows from this.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver en rättighetslag som skapar förutsättningar för goda levnadsvillkor och att stöd och service utformas efter den enskildes behov, med särskild uppmärksamhet på barn med funktionsnedsättning. Hjälpen till anhöriga ska vara stödjande och kompletterande, inte ersättande, vilket talar mot ett schablonavdrag som skjuter över ansvaret på föräldrarna. Motförslagets krav följer av det.
- rights law for good living conditionsdecisive»finnas en rättighetslag som skapar förutsättningar för« (party programme ↗)“exist a rights law that creates conditions for”
- services according to the individual's needs»service av olika slag ska utformas efter den enskildes« (party programme ↗)“services of various kinds shall be designed according to the individual's”
- flexible support to relatives»Det offentligas hjälp till anhöriga ska vara flexibel,« (party programme ↗)“Public help to relatives shall be flexible,”
- self-determination with disabilities»SJÄLVBESTÄMMANDE VID FUNKTIONSNEDSÄTTNING« (2022 manifesto ↗)“SELF-DETERMINATION WITH DISABILITIES”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The party programme establishes that responsibility for the weak and vulnerable is something the state must accomplish first, and that anyone who for physical or mental reasons cannot manage has the state's responsibility behind them — no one shall be left to their fate.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme establishes that responsibility for the weak and vulnerable is something the state must accomplish first, and that anyone who for physical or mental reasons cannot manage has the state's responsibility behind them — no one shall be left to their fate. To change the parental deduction's scope so that children with disabilities actually receive personal assistance follows from that. The plan's emphasis on parental responsibility pulls in another direction but primarily concerns something else.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att ansvar för de svaga och utsatta hör till det staten måste klara först, och att den som av fysiska eller psykiska skäl inte kan klara sig har statens ansvar bakom sig — ingen ska lämnas åt sitt öde. Att ändra föräldraavdragets omfattning så att barn med funktionsnedsättning faktiskt får personlig assistans följer av det. Planens betoning av föräldraansvaret drar åt andra hållet men avser i första hand annat.
- vulnerable prioritised firstdecisive»ansvar för de svaga och utsatta« (party programme ↗)“responsibility for the weak and vulnerable”
- state responsibility for disability»skäl inte kan arbeta har staten ett ansvar.« (party programme ↗)“reasons cannot work has the state a responsibility.”
- no one left to their fate»hon är också garanterad att inte lämnas åt sitt öde.« (party programme ↗)“she is also guaranteed to not be left to her fate.”
- strengthened parental responsibility»Betona och förstärka föräldraansvaret« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Emphasise and strengthen parental responsibility”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan explicitly states that all basic needs should be covered by personal assistance entirely and not be valued or weighed against each other, and that those who need support should receive it.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly states that all basic needs should be covered by personal assistance entirely and not be valued or weighed against each other, and that those who need support should receive it. A standardized parental deduction that removes parts of the child's needs directly conflicts with that commitment. The plan also explicitly opposes the savings requirements and restrictions that have undermined LSS.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår uttryckligen fast att samtliga grundläggande behov ska vara assistansgrundande i sin helhet och inte värderas eller ställas mot varandra, och att den som behöver stöd också ska få det. Ett schabloniserat föräldraavdrag som räknar bort delar av barnets behov strider direkt mot det åtagandet. Planen motsätter sig dessutom uttalat de sparkrav och inskränkningar som urholkat LSS.
- full needs covered by personal assistancedecisive»Sverigedemokraterna vill att samtliga grundläggande behov ska vara assistansgrundande i sin helhet och inte värderas eller ställas mot varandra. Den som är i behov av stöd ska också få det.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden Democrats want all basic needs to be covered by personal assistance entirely and not be valued or weighed against each other. Those who need support should also receive it.”
- no to savings requirements in LSS»Sverigedemokraterna har starkt motsatt sig sparkraven inom LSS.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden Democrats have strongly opposed the savings requirements within LSS.”
- restore LSS intentions»Det är viktigt att i ett första steg upprätthålla LSS ursprungliga intentioner, före prejudicerande domar och regeringens krav på kostnadsbesparingar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It is important first to maintain the original intentions of LSS, before prejudicial judgments and the government's demands for cost savings.”
- state responsibility for personal assistance»Ha statligt helhetsansvar för personlig assistans« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Have state overall responsibility for personal assistance”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
Share and embed
Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:SoU26)
- Committee report full text (HB01SoU26)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:1882 — Förstärkt personlig assistans av Ulrika Westerlund m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:2617 — Utgiftsområde 9 Hälsovård, sjukvård och social omsorg av Fredrik Lundh Sammeli m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2650 — Långsiktiga förutsättningar för mänskliga rättigheter av Carina Ståhl Herrstedt m.fl. (SD)
Source: The Swedish Parliament