Swedish Government's Proposal to Cut Benefits for Large Families Faces Backlash

The Swedish government's recent proposal to reduce social assistance for large families has sparked significant criticism from various child welfare organizations and political opponents. The plan, unveiled by the Tidöpartierna coalition, aims to reduce benefits for families with four or more children, potentially resulting in monthly losses upwards of 8,000 SEK for those affected. Social Insurance Minister Anna Tenje emphasized that the reform intends to decrease welfare dependency within households, especially among immigrant families, by implementing a benefit cap that will affect assistance starting from the fourth child.

The proposed reform could mean drastic changes for many families. For instance, a household with two parents and five children could see their total support decrease from 46,500 SEK tax-free to 38,300 SEK, prompting concerns that such cuts could push more families into poverty. Estimates suggest around 145,000 households may be impacted, with 30,000 individuals facing significant assistance reductions. The government aims to introduce incentives for employment and has also outlined plans to require all benefit recipients to participate in certain activities by mid-2026.

Critics, including the child advocacy group Rädda Barnen, have denounced the proposal as detrimental to children's rights, warning that it could exacerbate child poverty rather than mitigate it. Erik Ulnes, a spokesperson for the organization, emphasized, “We have a clear responsibility to ensure a certain standard of living for children,” accusing the government of prioritizing labor market policies over essential rights and wellbeing. Ulnes suggested alternatives focused on increasing child allowances and housing benefits instead of instituting cuts.

Opposition parties have echoed these concerns, arguing that the reform is essentially a 'poverty reform' and that it fails to address rising unemployment, currently at nearly 9%. Notably, Anders Ygeman from the Social Democrats noted that increasing hardship for poorer families would unlikely lead to a surge in employment, questioning the rationale behind the cuts. As these discussions unfold, the government has indicated that the proposals are set for consultation, with hopes of putting them into effect by January 2027, amid rising anxiety about the welfare implications for many families across Sweden.