People with an intellectual disability (ID) often have support through a sickness or activity allowance.
The previous government appointed an inquiry that would review and strengthen their financial security – an inquiry that the current government has closed.
Functional law Sweden critical
The investigation, which was called “A more effective calculation of sickness benefit and activity benefit”, would ensure that the compensation followed the income trend in the rest of society.
Just before Christmas 2022, however, the current government chose to close the investigation, which the organization Funktionsrätt Sweden is critical of.
– The investigation was about reviewing the economic conditions and its inequalities for people with disabilities in relation to other people who have the opportunity to work fully. We were very happy that it was started, but now it becomes a concern when it is shut down, because it is about people who cannot work on the same terms as others, says Elisabeth Wallenius, chairman of Funktionsrätt Sweden.
Minister Anna Tenje (M) answers
Minister for the Elderly and Social Insurance Anna Tenje (M) writes in an email to SVT regarding the discontinued investigation:
“The investigation was tasked with making proposals to change the calculation method for sickness and activity compensation, for example how the compensation should be recalculated over time. But given the high inflation, the calculation based on the price base amount has constituted a significantly stronger increase than, for example, the wage earners receive.”
She also writes that the government closely follows the issue of benefits and health insurance. And that if any rule changes regarding, among other things, health insurance affect the ability of individuals to return to work, the government will take the necessary measures.
