If you are going on parental leave, it may be a good idea to know a little about how parental benefit is calculated and what you can receive in compensation. Below you will find information that may be useful to know when you apply for parental benefit.

Parental benefit is the compensation you receive for staying at home with your child instead of working, studying or looking for work. Parental benefit is paid for 480 days for one child. For 390 days, the benefit is based on your income, known as *sickness benefit* days. For the remaining 90 days, the benefit is SEK 180 per day, known as *low level* days. The first 180 days must be sickness benefit days, after which low level days can be taken.

You are entitled to parental benefit if you

- Is the parent of the child or has custody of the child
- You are married or living with the child's parents
- Staying at home with your child instead of working, studying or looking for work
- are insured in Sweden, which you usually are if you live or work here
- The child is resident in Sweden or lives in the EU/EEA or Switzerland

If you are two parents sharing the day

Parental benefit is paid for 480 days for one child. These are days that you as parents can decide how to divide up. The first 180 days taken must be days at sickness benefit level, and after that you can take days at the minimum level.

If you want to take parental leave at the same time

During the first year, both parents can take parental benefit for the same day, known as double days. You can take a maximum of 30 double days, and these days must be taken in equal amounts - a full, half, third, quarter or eighth day. When you take double days, it counts as two days, one for each parent. If you take all 30 double days, you will have used 60 days of parental leave.

If you have sole custody

If you have sole custody of the child, you are entitled to all 480 days. The first 180 days must be at the sickness benefit level, and after that you can take days at the minimum level.

How much compensation do you get?

You will receive just under 80% of your income if you take parental benefit seven days a week, and the maximum amount is SEK 1012 per day.

You have worked for at least 240 consecutive days before the expected date of birth

Parental benefit at sickness benefit level is based on your income. To receive it, you must have had an annual income of at least SEK 82 300 for at least 240 consecutive days. You do not need to have had the same income or place of work for the whole time, but it is the total income and days that count. However, if you have not worked for 240 consecutive days before the child is born, you will receive SEK 250 per day at sickness benefit level for the first 180 days and then parental benefit based on your income, with a minimum amount of SEK 250.

If you have no income or a low income

If you have not had an income or have earned less than SEK 117,590 in a year, you will receive SEK 250 a day at sickness benefit level.

If you are a student

If you are a student, you will receive SEK 250 a day. If you have worked before you started studying, parental benefit may be based on your last salary.

If you are a jobseeker

If you had a job before you became a jobseeker, parental benefit at sickness benefit level can be based on your previous income. This applies if you registered with the Public Employment Service on the first working day after you became unemployed and are still registered. If you worked for six months or more before you became unemployed, it is sufficient if you registered with the Public Employment Service within three months of becoming unemployed. If you have not previously had an income or cannot receive parental benefit for your previous income, you will receive parental benefit of SEK 250 per day at sickness benefit level.

If you have a limited company or own business

If you have a limited company or are self-employed, your parental benefit is calculated on the salary you have received from the company. You can receive a maximum of SEK 1,012 per day at sickness benefit level. If you have received a salary of less than SEK 117,590 per year, you will receive SEK 250 per day at sickness benefit level. If you have a sole proprietorship, you can receive parental benefit based on your estimated income from business activity. If you have a newly registered company and have not had time to earn much income, you can receive as much parental benefit during the first 36 months as an employee with the same duties, education and experience.

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