2026-05-262025/26:SfU26 · p.1SfUMigration & social insurance
Government's legislative proposal
Benefit ban and administrative sanction fee for incorrect social-insurance payments
What's at stake: The sanctions hit individuals who have received benefits on incorrect grounds: a fee on top of the repayment claim, plus a period barred from receiving benefits. Supporters argue that preventive measures cannot reach deliberate errors and that public trust in the welfare systems requires effective sanctions, while critics see a risk that people who made mistakes are hit hard by decisions taken by agencies.
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 new sanctions — a benefit ban and an administrative sanction fee — should be introduced in social insurance to counter incorrect payments and benefit fraud, or whether the proposal should be turned down because the rule-of-law safeguards for individuals are considered insufficient.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee notes that there is a Riksdag-set target of reducing incorrect payments from the welfare systems and the crime directed at them, and that several measures have already been taken: a general provision breaking secrecy between agencies, expanded powers for the Social Insurance Agency and the Pensions Agency to obtain information, assignments in the agencies' appropriation directions to reduce the number of individuals facing repayment claims and to keep the legal quality of recovery decisions high, and an inquiry reviewing the recovery rules in the Social Insurance Code. Even so, the committee agrees with the government that these measures have not had sufficient effect. Preventive work probably has little effect on deliberate errors, which are estimated to lie behind a large share of the incorrect payments, and maintaining public trust in the welfare systems makes it crucial that benefit fraud and incorrect payments meet effective and appropriate sanctions. The committee therefore backs the government's bill on a benefit ban and a sanction fee.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (V, MP)
The reservation (V, MP) wants the government's bill on a benefit ban and a sanction fee rejected. The reason is that the proposal does not contain sufficient rule-of-law safeguards for the individuals who may be hit by the new sanctions.
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: adopting the government's legislative proposal and rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 1 by V, MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | No 0/21/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: high | derived |
| S | Yes | Yes 106/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| MP | No | No 0/18/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| C | No | Yes 24/0/0/0 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| L | Yes | Yes 16/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| KD | Yes | Yes 19/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | Yes | Yes 65/0/0/1 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| SD | Yes | Yes 69/0/0/1 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag adopts the government's proposal for 1. act amending the Social Insurance Code, 2. act amending the Act (2008:145) on state dental care support, 3. act amending the Benefit Fraud Act (2007:612), 4. act on proceedings for administrative penalties in benefit fraud cases. Thereby the Riksdag approves Parliament Bill 2025/26:210 paragraphs 1-4 and rejects motions 2025/26:4031 by Tony Haddou et al. (V) and 2025/26:4052 by Nils Seye Larsen et al. (MP).
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen antar regeringens förslag till 1. lag om ändring i socialförsäkringsbalken, 2. lag om ändring i lagen (2008:145) om statligt tandvårdsstöd, 3. lag om ändring i bidragsbrottslagen (2007:612), 4. lag om talan om administrativ sanktionsavgift i mål om bidragsbrott. Därmed bifaller riksdagen proposition 2025/26:210 punkterna 1-4 och avslår motionerna 2025/26:4031 av Tony Haddou m.fl. (V) och 2025/26:4052 av Nils Seye Larsen m.fl. (MP).
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag approved the government's proposal to introduce a penalty fee for those who in certain cases have caused an allowance to be paid incorrectly or in an excessive amount. The fee shall be charged to the person who has caused the allowance to be paid incorrectly or in an excessive amount by providing incorrect information or failing to fulfill a reporting or notification obligation. The proposal also provides the possibility to decide on a deduction from the right to an allowance for a certain period, a so-called benefit deduction. Such a deduction may be decided for an individual who knowingly or through gross negligence has provided incorrect information or failed to fulfill a reporting or notification obligation. The new rules enter into force on 1 July 2026, with certain transitional provisions.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to reject the government's proposal due to insufficient legal safeguards. (V, 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 requires human security systems and an end to exclusions of the sick, and explicitly rejects the idea that people should be pressured through worse conditions.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires human security systems and an end to exclusions of the sick, and explicitly rejects the idea that people should be pressured through worse conditions. Contribution freezes and sanction fees without adequate legal protection guarantees harm individuals in the last safety net, while the plan holds firm that legal protection must be maintained. The plan therefore supports the counter-proposal's demand that sanctions not be introduced.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver mänskliga trygghetssystem och ett slut på utförsäkrandet av sjuka, och avvisar uttryckligen idén att människor ska pressas genom sämre villkor. Bidragsspärr och sanktionsavgift utan tillräckliga rättssäkerhetsgarantier drabbar enskilda i det yttersta skyddsnätet, medan planen håller fast vid att rättssäkerheten ska upprätthållas. Planen stöder därför motförslagets krav att sanktionerna inte införs.
- human security systemsdecisive»Vänsterpartiet vill se en mänsklig sjukförsäkring och ett slut på utförsäkrandet av sjuka.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Left Party wants to see a human sickness insurance and an end to exclusions of the sick.”
- rejects punitive logic»Högerns idé är att invandrade, sjuka och arbetslösa är lata och om vi får det sämre så tvingas vi prestera bättre.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Right's idea is that immigrants, the sick and unemployed are lazy and if we get worse conditions we are forced to perform better.”
- legal protection for individuals»Rättssäkerheten behöver upprätthållas genom rättshjälp, medborgerlig« (party programme ↗)“Legal protection needs to be maintained through legal aid, civil”
- universal social insurance»Att socialförsäkringarna är allmänna och heltäckande gör dem« (party programme ↗)“That social insurance is universal and comprehensive makes them”
The plan requires that welfare crime and benefits fraud be stopped and that systems leading to leakage of tax revenue be abolished.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that welfare crime and benefits fraud be stopped and that systems leading to leakage of tax revenue be abolished. Refraining from benefit debarment and sanction charges would leave deliberate errors without effective consequences, which contradicts the commitment. The plan values legal security, but it does not justify that sanctions are completely absent.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att välfärdsbrottslighet och bidragsfusk stoppas och att system som leder till läckage av skattemedel avskaffas. Att avstå från bidragsspärr och sanktionsavgift skulle lämna de medvetna felen utan verkningsfulla följder, vilket går emot åtagandet. Rättssäkerheten värnas i planen, men den motiverar inte att sanktionerna helt uteblir.
- stopped welfare crimedecisive»Skattefusk, välfärdsbrottslighet och penningtvätt ska stoppas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Tax fraud, welfare crime and money laundering must be stopped.”
- combated benefits fraud»Bekämpande av bedrägerier och all annan ekonomisk brottslighet.« (party programme ↗)“Combating fraud and all other economic crime.”
- stop for leakage of tax revenue»Avskaffande av system som leder till bristande kontroll, läckage av skattemedel,« (party programme ↗)“Abolition of systems leading to lack of control, leakage of tax revenue,”
- legally secure application»Slå vakt om rättsstatens principer.« (party programme ↗)“Protect the principles of the rule of law.”
The plan requires that all new legislation be carefully examined on the basis of legal certainty and fundamental freedoms and rights and that everyone be equal before the law, and that people not fall between chairs in security systems.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that all new legislation be carefully examined on the basis of legal certainty and fundamental freedoms and rights and that everyone be equal before the law, and that people not fall between chairs in security systems. New sanctions such as benefits suspension and sanction fees without sufficient legal certainty guarantees contradict this. The plan, however, also wants to prioritise work against welfare crime, but the legal certainty requirement weighs more heavily here.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att all ny lagstiftning prövas noggrant utifrån rättssäkerhet och grundläggande fri- och rättigheter och att alla är lika inför lagen, samt att människor inte ska hamna i kläm i trygghetssystemen. Nya sanktioner som bidragsspärr och sanktionsavgift utan tillräckliga rättssäkerhetsgarantier står i strid med det. Planen vill visserligen också prioritera arbetet mot välfärdsbrott, men rättssäkerhetskravet väger tyngre här.
- legal certainty testing of legislationdecisive»prövas noggrant utifrån rättssäkerhet och grundläggande fri- och rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“be carefully examined on the basis of legal certainty and fundamental freedoms and rights.”
- equality before the law»Alla ska vara lika inför lagen« (party programme ↗)“Everyone shall be equal before the law”
- security without agency gaps»se till att människor inte bollas mellan myndigheter när de behöver samhällets stöd.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“ensure that people are not passed between agencies when they need society's support.”
- counter welfare crime»Vi vill också stärka arbetet mot den kriminella ekonomin.« (party programme ↗)“We also want to strengthen work against the criminal economy.”
The plan commits to defending the rule of law and individual rights against the state and rejects coercive tools lacking legal safeguards, which bears the counter-proposal's objection to new sanctions such as benefit bans and sanction fees.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan commits to defending the rule of law and individual rights against the state and rejects coercive tools lacking legal safeguards, which bears the counter-proposal's objection to new sanctions such as benefit bans and sanction fees. The plan also requires that the individual shall be able to have their case heard. Since the plan simultaneously wants to manage taxpayers' money carefully, the conclusion is uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planen förbinder sig att försvara rättsstaten och individens rättigheter gentemot staten och avvisar ingripande verktyg som saknar rättssäkerhetsgarantier, vilket bär motförslagets invändning mot nya sanktioner som bidragsspärr och sanktionsavgift. Planen kräver också att den enskilde ska kunna få sin sak prövad. Att planen samtidigt vill hushålla med skattebetalarnas pengar drar åt motsatt håll, varför slutsatsen är osäker.
- legal security against state interventiondecisive»Rättsstaten och individens rättigheter gentemot staten måste försvaras. Vi säger därför nej till visitationszoner, kollektiv bestraffning, omvänd bevisbörda, anonyma vittnen, preventiv avlyssning och inskränkningar av religionsfriheten.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The rule of law and individual rights against the state must be defended. We therefore say no to stop-and-search zones, collective punishment, reversed burden of proof, anonymous witnesses, preventive surveillance and restrictions on religious freedom.”
- right to have one's case heard»Alla som bor i Sverige ska kunna få sin sak prövad. Ledtiderna för handläggning och myndighetsutövning i domstolar och myndigheter måste kortas och tillgången till ombud förbättras.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Everyone living in Sweden shall be able to have their case heard. Processing times for handling and public administration in courts and agencies must be shortened and access to legal representation improved.”
- proportionality testingweak support»All lagstiftning bör prövas mot dess påverkan på människors personliga integritet.« (party programme ↗)“All legislation should be tested against its impact on people's personal integrity.”
- manage public funds carefully»Politiken ska hushålla med skattebetalarnas pengar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Politics must manage taxpayers' money carefully.”
flags: citat_svagt
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's line is that more shall contribute and fewer go on benefits and that misuse of systems shall be counteracted, with a clear connection between paid fees and benefits.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's line is that more shall contribute and fewer go on benefits and that misuse of systems shall be counteracted, with a clear connection between paid fees and benefits. Effective sanctions against incorrect payments lie in that line, while the counter-proposal wants to stop them. The plan's requirement for strengthened legal certainty is a real objection but does not outweigh the commitment to protect the system's legitimacy.
Original (Swedish)
Planens linje är att fler ska bidra och färre gå på bidrag och att missbruk av systemen ska motverkas, med ett tydligt samband mellan inbetalda avgifter och förmåner. Effektiva sanktioner mot felaktiga utbetalningar ligger i den linjen, medan motförslaget vill stoppa dem. Planens krav på stärkt rättssäkerhet är en verklig invändning men väger inte över åtagandet att värna systemens legitimitet.
- work line before benefitsdecisive»Fler måste bidra – färre måste gå på bidrag.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“More must contribute – fewer must go on benefits.”
- counter misuse of systems»Mer behöver göras för att systemet för arbetskraftsinvandring inte ska missbrukas för till exempel svartjobb.« (party programme ↗)“More needs to be done so that the system for labor immigration is not misused for example for undeclared work.”
- connection fee and benefit»Det ska finnas ett tydligt samband mellan förmåner och inbetalade premier.« (party programme ↗)“There shall be a clear connection between benefits and paid premiums.”
- strengthened legal certainty»Rättssäkerheten och skyddet för de medborgerliga fri- och rättigheterna behöver förstärkas.« (party programme ↗)“Legal certainty and protection of civil liberties and rights need to be strengthened.”
The party programme requires that all crimes be effectively prosecuted without exception and that respect for the law be maintained with firmness, and that benefit systems be designed so that benefit dependence is prevented.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme requires that all crimes be effectively prosecuted without exception and that respect for the law be maintained with firmness, and that benefit systems be designed so that benefit dependence is prevented. New sanctions against benefit fraud move in that direction. The counter-proposal wants to stop the sanctions, and the plan's requirement for rights protection does not support such a comprehensive rejection.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet kräver att alla brott effektivt och utan undantag beivras och att respekten för lagarna upprätthålls med fasthet, och att bidragssystemen utformas så att bidragsberoende motverkas. Nya sanktioner mot bidragsbrott ligger i den riktningen. Motförslaget vill stoppa sanktionerna, och planens krav på rättighetsskydd bär inte ett så långtgående avslag.
- all crimes shall be prosecuteddecisive»Alla brott ska effektivt och utan undantag beivras, också sådana som kan avfärdas som smärre brott och förseelser.« (party programme ↗)“All crimes shall be effectively prosecuted without exception, also those that might be dismissed as minor crimes and offences.”
- firm prosecution»Respekten för lagarna ska därför upprätthållas med fasthet och förövare av brott ska skyndsamt lagföras.« (party programme ↗)“Respect for the law shall therefore be maintained with firmness and offenders shall be swiftly prosecuted.”
- prevent benefit dependence»Skatte- och bidragssystemen måste utformas så att människors egen kraft och engagemang uppmuntras, och att bidragsberoende motverkas.« (party programme ↗)“Tax and benefit systems must be designed so that people's own effort and commitment are encouraged, and benefit dependence is prevented.”
- due process for the individual»Grundlagen ska säkerställa de rättigheter som alltid ska finnas för den enskilda människan och skydda dessa rättigheter från övergrepp.« (party programme ↗)“The constitution shall ensure the rights that always shall exist for the individual and protect these rights from abuse.”
The plan has the explicit goal of halving benefit crime and wants to sharpen penalties for benefit crime and establish a special benefit crime unit at the Swedish Social Insurance Agency.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan has the explicit goal of halving benefit crime and wants to sharpen penalties for benefit crime and establish a special benefit crime unit at the Swedish Social Insurance Agency. The counter-proposal wants to stop the new sanctions, that is, precisely the sharpened consequences the plan seeks. The plan's reason is that taxpayers' money shall go to what it is intended for.
Original (Swedish)
Planen har som uttalat mål att halvera bidragsbrotten och vill skärpa straffen för bidragsbrott samt inrätta en särskild bidragsbrottsenhet på Försäkringskassan. Motförslaget vill stoppa de nya sanktionerna, alltså precis de skärpta konsekvenser planen efterfrågar. Planens skäl är att skattebetalarnas pengar ska gå till det de är avsedda för.
- sharpened consequences for benefit crimedecisive»Skärpa straffen för bidragsbrott« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sharpen penalties for benefit crime”
- halved benefit crime»I ett första steg är målet att halvera bidragsbrotten under nästa mandatperiod.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“In a first step the goal is to halve benefit crimes during the next term of office.”
- special benefit crime unit»Inrätta en bidragsbrottsenhet på Försäkringskassan« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Establish a benefit crime unit at the Swedish Social Insurance Agency”
- control against incorrect payments»Genomföra en nationell folkräkning för att stoppa bidragsbrotten« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Carry out a national census to stop benefit crimes”
The plan requires stiffer penalties for fraud within welfare systems, that welfare fraud within social insurance be stopped, and that it shall become harder to exploit Swedish welfare, based on the premise that whoever acquires support in practice steals from their neighbor.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires stiffer penalties for fraud within welfare systems, that welfare fraud within social insurance be stopped, and that it shall become harder to exploit Swedish welfare, based on the premise that whoever acquires support in practice steals from their neighbor. The counter-proposal wants to stop the new sanctions, precisely the tools the plan calls for. The demand is therefore rejected on the merits.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver skärpta straff för fusk inom välfärdssystemen, att välfärdsbrottsligheten inom socialförsäkringen stoppas och att det ska bli svårare att exploatera den svenska välfärden, med utgångspunkten att den som tillskansar sig stöd i praktiken stjäl från sin granne. Motförslaget vill stoppa de nya sanktionerna, alltså just de verktyg planen efterfrågar. Kravet avvisas därför i sak.
- stiffer sanctions for frauddecisive»Skärpa straffen för fusk inom välfärdssystemen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Stiffen penalties for fraud within welfare systems”
- stop welfare fraud»Stoppa välfärdsbrottsligheten inom socialförsäkringen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Stop welfare fraud within social insurance”
- harder to exploit welfare»Göra det svårare att exploatera den svenska välfärden« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Make it harder to exploit Swedish welfare”
- benefit fraud harms others»den som tillskansar sig stöd som man egentligen« (party programme ↗)“the person who acquires support that one actually”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2025/26:SfU26)
- Committee report full text (HD01SfU26)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2025/26:4031 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:210 Bidragsspärr och sanktionsavgift i socialförsäkringen av Tony Haddou m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2025/26:4052 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:210 Bidragsspärr och sanktionsavgift i socialförsäkringen av Nils Seye Larsen m.fl. (MP)
- Proposition 2025/26:210 — Bidragsspärr och sanktionsavgift i socialförsäkringen
Source: The Swedish Parliament