Significant Delays in Sweden's Transition Support Processing Expose Staffing Issues
Sweden faces significant delays in processing transition support applications due to a backlog at Försäkringskassan, affecting thousands seeking education.
Key Points
- • Average processing time for transition support applications exceeds 72 days in July 2025, double from last year.
- • Over 20,000 applications received since April 1, 2025, with only 7,500 approvals granted.
- • Backlogs attributed to increased applications and previous understaffing at Försäkringskassan.
- • CSN is hiring more staff to address the processing delays, but concerns about timely decisions remain.
Applications for omställningsstöd (transition support) in Sweden are currently experiencing significant delays due to a substantial backlog at Försäkringskassan. As of July 2025, the average processing time for these applications has surged to over 72 days, more than doubling the wait times from the previous year. Compounding the issue, applicants are now facing a total wait time of 85 days for decisions from the Centrala studiestödsnämnden (CSN), the agency responsible for educational support approvals.
The dramatic rise in applications for omställningsstöd has been notable, with over five times as many cases received in April 2025 compared to April 2024. Andreas Stjernberg, operations area manager at Försäkringskassan, explained that the influx exceeded their staffing capabilities, a situation exacerbated by previous understaffing and the extensive training required for new hires. Since April 1, 2025, more than 20,000 individuals have applied for omställningsstöd, but only approximately 7,500 have received approval, indicating a severe bottleneck in processing.
In an effort to address the backlog, CSN has increased its staffing levels, moving closer to normal processing schedules; yet, significant challenges linger due to initial manpower shortages. Elina Andersson, a CSN office manager, voiced concerns that ongoing delays might discourage individuals from seeking further education if decisions are not finalized before study programs commence.
The omställningsstudiestöd is specifically aimed at individuals aged 27 to 62 who are looking to further their education or retrain for new careers, contingent upon having worked at least eight out of the last 14 years. For 2025, the budget allocated for this support stands at 4.88 billion kronor, with the aim to assist around 30,000 applicants. The current situation raises critical concerns about accessibility to necessary resources for those aiming to improve their qualifications in an increasingly competitive job market.