| Factor | Effect on the benefit |
|---|---|
| Lower income | Higher benefit |
| Higher rent (up to a cap) | Higher benefit |
| More children in the household | Higher benefit |
| Two earning adults | Lower benefit (incomes are combined) |
Housing allowance (bostadsbidrag) is a financial support from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan) that helps you pay your rent. Thousands of households in Sweden are entitled to it – yet many never apply, often because they assume they earn too much or don't understand how it works. This guide covers who can get housing allowance in 2026, how much you can receive and how to apply step by step.
What is housing allowance?
Bostadsbidrag is a means-tested benefit paid by Försäkringskassan. Its purpose is to even out housing costs for lower-income households. How much you get depends on three things:
- Your income (and your partner's income, if any)
- Your housing cost (the rent)
- How many people live in the household – especially the number of children
The benefit is paid monthly and is tax-free. Importantly, housing allowance is preliminary: it is based on your estimated annual income and reconciled against your actual income afterwards (see the repayment section below).
Who can get housing allowance in 2026?
There are two main groups who can apply:
1. Families with children
If you have children living with you – or on a visitation basis – you can apply whether you are a single parent, cohabiting or married. The benefit consists partly of support toward your housing cost and partly of a special allowance per child. The more children and the lower the household income, the higher the benefit.
2. Young people without children (aged 18–28)
If you are between 18 and 28 and have no children you can receive housing allowance, but the rules are stricter and the amount lower. To qualify, your rent must be above a certain level relative to your income. For young people without children the maximum is roughly SEK 1,300 per month, and the rent normally needs to fall in the range of about SEK 1,800–3,000 per month to count fully.
