2025-12-102025/26:SfU1 · p.1SfUMigration & social insurance
Targets for expenditure area 10
The goal for expenditure area 10 - economic security in case of illness
What's at stake: The wording of the goal shapes which priorities the Social Insurance Agency applies to sickness insurance, and thereby what support sick people receive. A goal that emphasises low sick-leave rates risks, according to critics, coming into conflict with the individual's need for security and rehabilitation, which became especially apparent during the pandemic.
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 goal set by Parliament for expenditure area 10, which today focuses on keeping sick-leave at a stable and low level, should be changed to a more need-driven goal centred on economic security and support for returning to work, or whether the current goal should remain unchanged.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee has previously rejected a similar proposal to change the goal for this expenditure area and sees no reason to reach a different conclusion now. The committee therefore rejects motion 2025/26:2779, item 3.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (V)
The reservation (V) argues that sickness insurance must be need-driven and calls on the government to come back with a proposal to change the goal for expenditure area 10 to providing economic security during illness and effective support for the individual to regain work capacity and return to work, with this to guide the Social Insurance Agency's appropriation directions. The reasoning is that other ambitions, such as pushing down sick-leave rates, have for too long been allowed to govern how the insurance functions, which became clear during the pandemic.
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 V.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have held
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: KDKristdemokraterna, LLiberalerna, SDSverigedemokraterna
Ja 274–20Ja 185–109
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 0/18/0/4 | match | confidence: high | explicit |
| S | No | Yes 92/0/0/14 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | Yes 14/0/0/4 | differs | confidence: high | not addressed |
| C | No | Yes 19/0/0/5 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 13/0/0/3 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| KD | No | Yes 15/0/0/4 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: medium | explicit |
| M | No | Yes 59/0/0/9 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 61/0/0/11 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: medium | explicit |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects motion 2025/26:2779 by Isabell Mixter et al. (V) demand 3.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2025/26:2779 av Isabell Mixter m.fl. (V) yrkande 3.
Riksdag decision: In total, approximately 122 billion kronor from the state budget for 2026 goes to the expenditure area Economic security in case of illness and disability. The Riksdag approved the government's proposal in the budget bill for 2026 on how the money should be distributed within the expenditure area. Thereby the Riksdag rejected alternative budget proposals in motions. Most money, approximately 54 billion kronor, goes to activity and sickness benefits. Approximately 52 billion kronor goes to sickness benefits and rehabilitation, and just over 11 billion kronor goes to the Swedish Social Insurance Agency. Money should also go to an additional five areas. The Riksdag also approved the government's proposal for a financial authorization. The Riksdag decides on the state budget in two stages. First, decisions are made on the framework for the 27 expenditure areas in the budget. The Riksdag made that decision on 26 November 2025. Thereafter, the Riksdag determines in a second stage how the money should be distributed within each expenditure area. This decision concerns stage two of the decision-making process. The Riksdag also approved the government's proposal on legislative amendments. The government's proposal means that economic security for persons accompanying state employees should be strengthened. The government's proposal also applies to expanded possibilities for suspended sickness and activity benefits during studies. The legislative amendments shall enter into force on 1 January 2026 and 1 June 2026 respectively.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants the government to change the goal for budget area 10 to provide economic security during illness and effective support for return to work. (V) — 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 election manifesto demands a humane sickness insurance and an end to exclusion of the sick, which is exactly what a need-driven target for that expenditure area aims at.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto demands a humane sickness insurance and an end to exclusion of the sick, which is exactly what a need-driven target for that expenditure area aims at. That steering has been directed at pressing down sickness figures is what the plan opposes when it says that compensation should be able to be obtained without having to beat oneself bloody. The party programme emphasizes strong, rights-based insurance throughout life.
Original (Swedish)
Valplattformen kräver en mänsklig sjukförsäkring och ett slut på utförsäkrandet av sjuka, vilket är precis vad ett behovsstyrt mål för utgiftsområdet syftar till. Att styrningen inriktats på att pressa ned sjuktalen är det planen vänder sig emot när den säger att ersättning ska kunna fås utan att man ska behöva stånga sig blodig. Partiprogrammet understryker starka, rättighetsbaserade försäkringar genom hela livet.
- humane sickness insurancedecisive»Vänsterpartiet vill se en mänsklig sjukförsäkring och ett slut på utförsäkrandet av sjuka.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Left Party wants to see a humane sickness insurance and an end to exclusion of the sick.”
- secure compensation when sick»När du blir sjuk eller föder barn ska du kunna lita på att få ersättning från Försäkringskassan utan att behöva stånga dig blodig.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“When you become sick or give birth, you should be able to rely on receiving compensation from the Social Insurance Agency without having to beat yourself bloody.”
- strong social insurance»Vi vill se starka försäkringar som skapar trygghet för var och en under« (party programme ↗)“We want to see strong insurance that creates security for everyone under”
The plan's core commitment is that those too ill to work can rely on sickness insurance, and that security for the sick-listed should increase.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's core commitment is that those too ill to work can rely on sickness insurance, and that security for the sick-listed should increase. A needs-based goal for economic security during illness and effective support back to work corresponds to this, as does the plan's requirement that everyone's work capacity is utilised. However, the plan speaks of the insurance's function, not of the objective formulation for the expenditure area as such.
Original (Swedish)
Planens bärande åtagande är att den som är för sjuk för att arbeta ska kunna lita på sjukförsäkringen, och att tryggheten för sjukskrivna ska öka. Ett behovsstyrt mål om ekonomisk trygghet vid sjukdom och effektivt stöd tillbaka till arbete motsvarar detta, liksom planens krav på att allas arbetsförmåga tas tillvara. Planen talar dock om försäkringens funktion, inte om målformuleringen för utgiftsområdet som sådan.
- reliance on sickness insurancedecisive»vi slår vakt om principen att den som är för sjuk för att arbeta ska kunna lita på sjukförsäkringen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“we uphold the principle that those too ill to work can rely on sickness insurance”
- increased security during illness»Ökad trygghet för sjukskrivna och arbetsskadade.« (party programme ↗)“Increased security for the sick-listed and work-injured.”
- return to work»Allas arbetsförmåga tas tillvara.« (party programme ↗)“Everyone's work capacity is utilised.”
- improved sickness benefits»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 working on proposals to improve sickness benefits.”
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 confirms that sickness insurance shall provide security in illness and that no one shall be forced to work when sick, and that people shall not be bounced between authorities.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan confirms that sickness insurance shall provide security in illness and that no one shall be forced to work when sick, and that people shall not be bounced between authorities. A needs-based goal where insurance provides economic security and support back to work aligns with this, while a goal focused on pressing down sick-leave rates does not. Therefore the plan supports the counter-proposal's requirement.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att sjukförsäkringen ska ge trygghet vid sjukdom och att ingen ska tvingas arbeta när man är sjuk, samt att människor inte ska bollas mellan myndigheter. Ett behovsstyrt mål där försäkringen ska ge ekonomisk trygghet och stöd tillbaka till arbete ligger i linje med detta, medan ett mål inriktat på att pressa ned sjuktalen gör det inte. Därför stöder planen motförslagets krav.
- security upon sick leavedecisive»förändra sjukförsäkringen så den ger bättre trygghet vid sjukskrivning och se till att människor inte bollas mellan myndigheter när de behöver samhällets stöd.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“change sickness insurance so it provides better security upon sick leave and ensure that people are not bounced between authorities when they need society's support.”
- no one shall work sick»ingen tvingas jobba trots att man är sjuk« (2022 manifesto ↗)“no one is forced to work despite being sick”
- decent compensation level»Ersättningarna i trygghetssystemen ska vara tillräckligt höga för att säkerställa en värdig levnadsstandard.« (party programme ↗)“Compensation in security systems shall be sufficiently high to ensure a decent standard of living.”
- seamless security system»Ingen människa ska hamna i kläm mellan a-kassa och sjukförsäkring« (party programme ↗)“No person shall fall between unemployment insurance and sickness insurance”
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 states that social insurance shall help the individual recover and receive rehabilitation to be able to return to work, which is exactly the needs-based function the counter-proposal wants to write into the goal.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme states that social insurance shall help the individual recover and receive rehabilitation to be able to return to work, which is exactly the needs-based function the counter-proposal wants to write into the goal. The election manifesto reinforces this with demands for better rehabilitation and more flexible sick leave. A goal driven by the ambition to push down sickness absence levels conflicts with these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att sjukförsäkringen ska hjälpa den enskilda att tillfriskna och få rehabilitering för att kunna återgå i arbete, vilket är precis den behovsstyrda funktion motförslaget vill skriva in i målet. Valmanifestet förstärker detta med krav på bättre rehabilitering och mer flexibel sjukskrivning. Ett mål som styrs av ambitionen att pressa ned sjuktalen strider mot dessa åtaganden.
- social insurance for return to workdecisive»den enskilda att tillfriskna och få den rehabilitering som krävs för att kunna återgå i arbete.« (party programme ↗)“help the individual recover and receive the rehabilitation required to be able to return to work.”
- better rehabilitation, flexible sick leave»Gör mer för att förebygga, motverka och rehabilitera stressrelaterad psykisk ohälsa. Vi vill göra sjukskrivningen mer flexibel och förbättra rehabiliteringen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Do more to prevent, counteract and rehabilitate stress-related mental illness. We want to make sick leave more flexible and improve rehabilitation.”
- basic economic security in illness»Välfärden ska innefatta sociala skyddsnät som förmår skapa en god ekonomisk grundtrygghet.« (party programme ↗)“The welfare system should include social safety nets capable of creating good basic economic security.”
- work line protected»Arbetslinjen måste värnas, och den som kan jobba ska inte leva på skattebetalarnas pengar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The work line must be protected, and those who can work should not live off taxpayers' money.”
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 formulates the sick insurance's task almost verbatim as the counter-proposal: economic security in case of illness linked to support and rehabilitation to facilitate return to work.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan formulates the sick insurance's task almost verbatim as the counter-proposal: economic security in case of illness linked to support and rehabilitation to facilitate return to work. It also emphasizes that those who try to work after long sick leave shall be able to return to insurance. A needs-based goal of the kind the counter-proposal requires thus follows directly from the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen formulerar sjukförsäkringens uppgift nästan ordagrant som motförslaget: ekonomisk trygghet vid sjukdom kopplad till stöd och rehabilitering för att underlätta återgång till arbete. Den betonar också att den som prövar att arbeta efter lång sjukskrivning ska kunna återgå till försäkringen. Ett behovsstyrt mål av det slag motförslaget kräver följer därför direkt av planen.
- security and rehabilitationdecisive»Sjukförsäkringen ska ge ekonomisk trygghet vid både kortvarig och kronisk sjukdom, och ska vara kopplad till stöd och rehabilitering för att underlätta återgång till arbete.« (party programme ↗)“Sick insurance shall provide economic security in both short-term and chronic illness, and shall be linked to support and rehabilitation to facilitate return to work.”
- needs-based social insurance»Socialförsäkringarna ska erbjuda trygghet när individen inte kan försörja sig själv vid sjukdom, arbetsskada, arbetslöshet eller föräldraledighet.« (party programme ↗)“Social insurances shall offer security when the individual cannot support themselves due to illness, work injury, unemployment or parental leave.”
- safe return to work»Den som efter långvarig sjukskrivning provar att arbeta ska kunna göra detta och sedan om så krävs återgå till sjukförsäkringen.« (party programme ↗)“Those who after long-term sick leave try to work shall be able to do so and then if necessary return to sick insurance.”
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 establishes that a solidarity-funded social insurance system shall provide economic security and that benefits shall be designed so that the individual is encouraged to take measures leading to good health and return to work.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that a solidarity-funded social insurance system shall provide economic security and that benefits shall be designed so that the individual is encouraged to take measures leading to good health and return to work. The counter-proposal's suggested aim — security during illness and effective support for regaining work ability — is in substance the same commitment. The plan provides no support for other ambitions than the individual's needs to govern the insurance.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att ett solidariskt finansierat socialförsäkringssystem ska ge ekonomisk trygghet och att ersättningarna ska utformas så att den enskilde stimuleras till åtgärder som leder till god hälsa och återgång till arbetslivet. Motförslagets föreslagna mål — trygghet vid sjukdom och effektivt stöd för att återfå arbetsförmågan — är i sak samma åtagande. Planen ger inget stöd för att andra ambitioner än den enskildes behov ska styra försäkringen.
- economic security during illnessdecisive»Ett solidariskt finansierat socialförsäkringssystem ska finnas för att ge ekonomisk trygghet« (party programme ↗)“A solidarity-funded social insurance system shall exist to provide economic security”
- return to work»stimuleras att delta i åtgärder som leder till så god hälsa som möjligt och återgång till« (party programme ↗)“encouraged to participate in measures leading to as good health as possible and return to”
- reasonable security in social insurance»Socialförsäkringssystemen ska vara utformade så att alla får en rimlig« (party programme ↗)“Social insurance systems shall be designed so that everyone receives reasonable”
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 party programme states that public welfare should protect the vulnerable and at all times aim to help people back to work and self-sufficiency, and that safety systems should be based on the work line.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme states that public welfare should protect the vulnerable and at all times aim to help people back to work and self-sufficiency, and that safety systems should be based on the work line. The counter-proposal's goal, economic security in illness plus effective support for return to work, is precisely that formulation. The plan also supports the idea that the safety net exists for those who need it.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet säger att den offentliga välfärden ska skydda den utsatte och hela tiden syfta till att hjälpa människor tillbaka till arbete och självförsörjning, och att trygghetssystemen ska utgå från arbetslinjen. Motförslagets mål, ekonomisk trygghet vid sjukdom plus effektivt stöd för återgång i arbete, är just den formuleringen. Planen ställer sig också bakom att skyddsnätet finns för den som behöver det.
- support for return to workdecisive»och som hela tiden syftar till att hjälpa människor tillbaka till arbete och självförsörjning.« (party programme ↗)“and at all times aims to help people back to work and self-sufficiency.”
- work line in safety systems»Skatter och bidragssystem ska utgå från arbetslinjen.« (party programme ↗)“Taxes and benefit systems should be based on the work line.”
- safety net when needed»och där välfärdens skyddsnät finns till för den som behöver det.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“and where welfare's safety net exists for those who need it.”
- work line before benefit line»Där bidragslinjen ersätts av arbetslinjen så att fler kan komma till sin rätt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Where the benefit line is replaced by the work line so that more can come into their own.”
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 points out that governance aimed at reducing the number receiving sickness benefits has led to unsustainable denials of benefits, and requires a secure and legally sound sickness insurance with increased focus on rehabilitation and return to work.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly points out that governance aimed at reducing the number receiving sickness benefits has led to unsustainable denials of benefits, and requires a secure and legally sound sickness insurance with increased focus on rehabilitation and return to work. The counter-proposal's demand for a needs-based goal of economic security and effective support for return to work is precisely that reorientation. The plan therefore supports the counter-proposal's demands.
Original (Swedish)
Planen pekar uttryckligen ut att en styrning inriktad på att få ner antalet med sjukpenning har lett till ohållbara utförsäkringar, och kräver en trygg och rättssäker sjukförsäkring med ökat fokus på rehabilitering och återgång i arbete. Motförslagets krav på ett behovsstyrt mål om ekonomisk trygghet och effektivt stöd för återgång i arbete är precis den omläggningen. Planen bär därför motförslagets krav.
- criticism of sickness rate managementdecisive»Detta tillsammans med en styrning från regeringen som fokuserat på att spara på kostnader genom få ner antalet med sjukpenning har lett ohållbara utförsäkringar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“This together with government governance that has focused on saving costs by reducing the number receiving sickness benefits has led to unsustainable denials of benefits.”
- secure and legally sound sickness insurance»Verka för en trygg och rättssäker sjukförsäkring« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Work for a secure and legally sound sickness insurance”
- rehabilitation and return to work»Se ökat fokus och mer resurser på förebyggande arbete samt rehabilitering« (2022 manifesto ↗)“See increased focus and more resources for preventive work and rehabilitation”
- needs-based application»Öka flexibiliteten och individanpassningen i beslutsfattandet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increase flexibility and individual adjustment in decision-making”
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.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2025/26:SfU1)
- Committee report full text (HD01SfU1)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2025/26:2779 — En tryggare sjukförsäkring av Isabell Mixter m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2025/26:3165 — Utgiftsområde 10 Ekonomisk trygghet vid sjukdom och funktionsnedsättning av Nooshi Dadgostar m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2025/26:3512 — Utgiftsområde 10 Ekonomisk trygghet vid sjukdom och funktionsnedsättning av Malte Tängmark Roos m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2025/26:3587 — Utgiftsområde 8 Migration av Ida Karkiainen m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:3588 — Utgiftsområde 10 Ekonomisk trygghet vid sjukdom och funktionsnedsättning av Ida Karkiainen m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:3601 — Utgiftsområde 10 Ekonomisk trygghet vid sjukdom och funktionsnedsättning av Martina Johansson m.fl. (C)
- Proposition 2025/26:1 — Budgetpropositionen för 2026
Source: The Swedish Parliament