Housing benefit and housing allowance when you move

Apply for benefits when you move, in seven steps

1. 1

   Step 1: Find out what support applies to you with the decision guide: housing allowance or housing supplement.

2. 2

   Step 2: Calculate the benefit in Försäkringskassan's service Calculate housing benefit, or in Pensionsmyndigheten's calculation of housing supplement.

3. 3

   Step 3: Make flyttanmälan (notification of change of address) to Skatteverket (the Swedish Tax Agency). The housing allowance is usually only granted for one residence where you are registered.

   § 96 chapter 2 § of the Social Security Bill (2010:110), verified on 5 October 2026

4. 4

   Step 4: Bring out the rental contract and the latest rent specification. If you rent in the second hand, the landlord's or association's approval is also required.

5. 5

   Step 5: Apply the same month you move in. Housing allowance is not paid for time before the application month.

   § 96 chapters 12, 13 and 14 §§ of the Social Security Act (2010:110), verified on 5 October 2026

6. 6

   Step 6: If you already have a benefit or supplement: report the move, the new rent and if someone is moving in or out, no later than 14 days after you were informed of the change.

   § 110 chapter 46 and 47 §§ of the Social Security Bill (2010:110), checked on 5 October 2026

7. 7

   Step 7: Save the receipts. The year after, Försäkringskassan will check the housing allowance against your income.

   § 95 chapter 4 § of the Social Security Bill (2010:110), verified on 5 October 2026

   § 98 chapter 6 § of the Social Security Bill (2010:110), verified on 5 October 2026

Who can get housing benefit from Försäkringskassan?

Housing benefit is available for two groups: families with children and households without children where you are 18 to 28 years old. If you or your spouse or partner turns 29, you are no longer eligible for the benefit for young people. You also cannot receive it if you get housing supplement. The benefit is paid for a home where you live and are registered, and you must own it or have it with rental apartment or tenant-owned apartment. Subletting contracts are acceptable.

Two exceptions to the requirement for population registration exist according to Försäkringskassan: protected population registration, and that you live temporarily somewhere else and will move back within a year, for example for a term of study. Read more about where you should be registered in the guide to population registration and c/o.

Source: Social Insurance Act (2010:110) (riksdagen.se), Försäkringskassan: Housing allowance for young people (under 29 years). 96 chap. 2, 10 and 11 §§ Social Insurance Act.

Can I get housing benefit as a student?

Yes, it does not matter if you are studying or working. What matters is the income and housing cost. This is what it says at Försäkringskassan on 5 October 2026:

• Single people can earn a maximum of 86,720 kr per year before tax.
• Married couples and cohabiting partners can earn a maximum of 103,720 kr together per year.
• As a single person, you need to pay more than 1,800 kronor per month for the home.
• The highest contribution is 1,300 kronor per month, both for those who live alone and for cohabiting couples.
• Only 60 square meters of the home are counted. If you live in an 80 square meter home, 75 percent of the cost is counted.

Study grants and study start support from CSN (the Swedish Board of Student Finance) are considered income, as are wages, unemployment benefits and sickness benefits. If you have assets worth more than 100,000 kr, they are also considered. If you live as an lodger, you cannot receive the grant for young people. If you are moving away from home for the first time, the budget and the rest of the list can be found in the guide moving away from home.

Source: Försäkringskassan: Housing benefit for young people (under 29 years).

How much can a family with children get?

Housing allowance for families with children can be received if the child lives with you for at least 30 days a year. If the child lives with you for less than about half the time, the home must have at least two rooms and a kitchen and be at least 40 square meters. Young people are considered children as long as they receive study assistance from CSN or extended child allowance. According to Försäkringskassan on 5 October 2026, the highest allowance per month is:

• 4,200 kr with one child
• 5,200 kr with two children
• 6,200 kr with three or more children.

There is also a limit to how high a housing cost that counts: 6,800 kr per month with one child, 7,900 with two and 8,600 with three or more. If the rent is already close to the limit, a more expensive home does not give a higher benefit. If you are married or cohabiting, you apply together.

Source: Försäkringskassan: Apply for housing benefit for families with children, Social Insurance Code (2010:110) (riksdagen.se). Chapters 96, 4, 6 and 9 §§ and Chapter 95, 8 § Social Insurance Code.

Housing supplement for pensioners: Pensionsmyndigheten or Försäkringskassan?

Housing supplement is a tax-free support that pensioners apply for with Pensionsmyndigheten. What is sometimes called rental allowance or housing allowance for pensioners is the same thing. You can apply if you live in Sweden, are 67 years or older and receive your full national pension. The supplement is at most 7,290 kronor per month according to Pensionsmyndigheten on 5 October 2026, and how much you get depends on your housing costs, income, assets and whether you live alone. If you have sickness benefit or activity compensation, you apply for housing supplement with Försäkringskassan instead.

The housing supplement is only granted for the home where you live permanently, regardless of whether you rent or own it. If you move to a special accommodation, the supplement may be calculated on the old home as long as you have the cost of it, for a maximum of six months.

Source: Pensionsmyndigheten: Facts about housing allowance, Pensionsmyndigheten: Answers to common questions about housing allowance, Social Insurance Code (2010:110) (riksdagen.se). Chapter 101, sections 3, 7 and 10 of the Social Insurance Code.

How do assets affect the housing supplement?

Assets over 100,000 kronor for singles, or 200,000 kronor for married couples and partners, affect the housing allowance. By assets, Pensionsmyndigheten means, for example, money in a bank account, funds, shares and the tax value of a holiday home, calculated on 31 December the previous year. If the assets change, it affects the allowance from the following year.

Source: Pensionsmyndigheten: Answers to common questions about housing allowance.

This is how you apply for housing allowance from Pensionsmyndigheten

The easiest way is the e-service, where you log in with e-identification. You can also apply using a form that you download or order from Pensionsmyndigheten, and if you want help with a calculation, you can call or visit a service office. Have this ready:

• rental invoice, or fee invoice from the tenant-owned apartment association
• a payment notice showing your income before tax
• the annual statement from the bank, if your assets are worth more than 100,000 kronor
• information about the loans, if you have debts on the home.

If you live in a tenant-owned apartment, you count the entire monthly cost. For example, broadband or heating on the fee invoice is included. You can get housing allowance retroactively, but no more than three months back from the application. Pensionsmyndigheten writes that it may take several months before you receive the decision, so apply the same month you move.

Source: Pensionsmyndigheten: Apply for housing allowance, Pensionsmyndigheten: Answers to common questions about housing allowance.

What should I report when I move?

The law requires you to report changes that affect the benefit, including your home, who you live with and your income. The notification must be made as soon as possible and no later than 14 days after you found out about the change. Försäkringskassan and Pensionsmyndigheten mention the same things:

• you move from the home you receive benefits or supplements for
• the rent, the fee to the association or the mortgage interest changes
• someone moves in with you or moves out, or you become cohabiting
• The income increases or decreases
• a child lives with you more or less than before.

You report housing benefit in the Försäkringskassan e-service if you are single and on form 5098 if you have the benefit together. You report housing supplement on Mina sidor with Pensionsmyndigheten, and if you are married or cohabiting, you do it together. Flyttanmälan to Skatteverket is a separate report, and you do it in the guide on flyttanmälan to Skatteverket.

Source: Social Insurance Act (2010:110) (riksdagen.se), Försäkringskassan: Report changes to housing benefits, Pensionsmyndigheten: Report changes for housing supplements. Chapters 110, sections 46 and 47 of the Social Insurance Act.

Do I get more benefits if the rent increases?

It depends on where the rent ends up. If you have a grant for young people and pay 3,600 kr or more, the grant is not affected by an increase, and then you do not need to report it. If you get a rent increase retrospectively, the housing allowance can be increased retroactively if you report it within a month of finding out about it. Försäkringskassan writes 31 days. For housing supplement, a higher rent or fee can give a higher supplement.

Source: Försäkringskassan: Housing allowance for young people (under 29 years), Försäkringskassan: Report changes to housing allowance, Pensionsmyndigheten: Report changes for housing supplement, Social Insurance Code (2010:110) (riksdagen.se). 96 chap. 14 § socialförsäkringsbalken.

Do I have to pay back the housing allowance?

The housing benefit is paid out as a preliminary benefit, calculated based on the annual income you estimate. The following year, Försäkringskassan reconciles it with the Tax Authority's information. If you earned more than you stated, you will have to pay it back, and if you earned less, you will receive the money afterwards. Differences under 1,200 kr are neither paid out nor required to be paid back. A debt can be divided, but must be paid within twelve months.

For decisions from 1 January 2027, Försäkringskassan calculates the benefit based on income every month instead, so that it can be adjusted continuously. If you already have a benefit, it applies when you apply for a new one in 2027.

Source: Försäkringskassan: Repay housing benefit, Försäkringskassan: Housing benefit, new rules from 1 January 2027, Social Insurance Code (2010:110) (riksdagen.se). 95 chap. 4 § and 98 chap. 6 § Social Insurance Code, in the version before and from 1 January 2027 (SFS 2026:749).

The law behind it

The sections summarised, with a link to the legal text on riksdagen.se.