Delays in Transition Support Applications Persist in Sweden

Significant delays in processing applications for transition support (omställningsstöd) in Sweden continue to affect thousands seeking educational and vocational advancement. As of July 2025, the average processing time at Försäkringskassan, the Swedish Social Insurance Agency, had soared to over two months, reaching 72 days—more than double the average wait time from July 2024. These delays coincide with an unprecedented influx of applications; in April 2025 alone, the agency reported a fivefold increase in submissions compared to the same month the previous year.

Consequently, the average total waiting time for decisions from CSN (Centrala studiestödsnämnden) has also risen to 85 days. Elina Andersson, manager at CSN, emphasized that the strain on Försäkringskassan directly impacts their processing capabilities, delaying support for individuals organizing new educational paths.

Furthermore, while over 20,000 applications for omställningsstöd have been made since April, only about 12,750 decisions have been rendered, with 7,500 applicants granted support. Andreas Stjernberg from Försäkringskassan attributed the delays to factors like understaffing and the extensive time required for training new employees to manage these overwhelming application numbers.

With the budget for omställningsstöd set at 4.88 billion kronor for 2025, this ongoing situation raises concerns over the educational opportunities available to many Swedes and the efficiency of the support systems in place.