Swedish citizens living abroad will no longer receive a guaranteed pension from January 2023, with almost 58,000 people affected by the change.

The Rikstag decided that expat’s right to take a guaranteed pension with them when moving from Sweden was to cease next month (October), while those who already live outside Sweden will stop receiving their guaranteed pension from January.

The Swedish Pensions Authority (SPA) has written to the pensioners affected.

“The Riksdag decision is only about the guaranteed pension,” commented SPA pension expert, Ann-Sofie Kraft Nilsson.

“All other parts of the pension, such as income pension or premium pension, continue to be paid out to residents abroad in the same way as before.”

Following an EU ruling in 2017, the guaranteed pension was classified as a ‘minimum benefit’, which is only paid to people who reside in the country that grants the benefit.

“Since the guaranteed pension is no longer seen as a pension but as a minimum benefit, it is the safety net in the country of residence that must apply if the income pension is not enough,” said Kraft Nilsson.

A total of 57,697 Swedish pensioners with a guaranteed pension live in another EU/EEA country.

Finland is the country with the most pensioners with a Swedish guaranteed pension, with 23,126 expats living there, followed by Norway (6,864) and Germany (5,585).

In August 2022, an average of SEK 989 before tax per month was paid out in guaranteed pensions to each pensioner residing abroad who have a Swedish pension.

“The pensioners who receive the letter have the opportunity to submit comments on our information about country of residence within 30 days,” added Kraft Nilsson.

“If we do not receive any views, we will make a decision in December based on the information we have.”

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