If you have additional expenses related to your child’s disability, you may be eligible for additional cost allowance. Additional costs are costs that are incurred due to the child's disability and go beyond what is customary for children of the same age. The Swedish Social Insurance Agency determines what counts as additional costs.

Can I claim additional cost allowance?

You may be eligible for additional cost allowance if

• your child has a disability that can be presumed to persist for at least six months
• you have additional costs amounting to at least SEK 11,825 per year due to the child’s disability
• you are the child's parent, person who receives a child with a view to adoption, or have custody of the child
• you and your child are insured in Sweden. If you live here, you are covered by insurance. However, there are some exceptions to this rule.

Current processing time 

We have longer processing time than normal for care allowance for children with special needs and additional cost allowance, we apologize for you having to wait for the decision and we do everything we can to shorten the times. The average processing time is eight months.

You will not lose any money because of our processing times. If you are entitled to compensation, you will receive money in arrears when we make a decision.

How much money will I receive?

You can receive between SEK 1,183 and 2,759 per month for a child depending on the amount of additional costs. If your additional costs are less than SEK 11,825 per year, you will not be reimbursed.

These amounts are valid for 2020. You will not pay any tax on the allowance.

Additional costs per year and monthly compensation

Your additional costs are at least SEK 11,825 per year.
You may receive a maximum of SEK 1,183 per month.

Your additional costs are at least SEK 16,555 per year.
You may receive a maximum of SEK 1,557 per month.

Your additional costs are at least SEK 21,285 per year.
You may receive a maximum of SEK 1,971 per month.

Your additional costs are at least SEK 26,015 per year.
You may receive a maximum of SEK 2,365 per month.

Your additional costs are at least SEK 30,745 per year.
You may receive the maximum amount of SEK 2,759 per month.

Two parents may receive additional cost allowance

You and the child’s other parent can receive additional cost allowance for the same child. In such case, you share the allowance. The Swedish Social Insurance Agency calculates the total additional costs for the child and you can choose how the compensation is to be distributed among you. If you do not make a choice, you will receive half each. If you cannot agree, the Swedish Social Insurance Agency will split the allowance in quarters based on the additional costs that each of you incurs.

How do I apply?

1. Apply on My pages (Mina sidor)

Apply for additional cost allowance on My pages (Mina sidor). You use the same application to change how much of the allowance goes to you and how much of it goes to the other parent.

Ansök om merkostnadsersättning eller ändra fördelning (inloggning)

2. Send in a medical statement

After completing your application, send in a medical statement describing your child’s disability. If you are applying via our e-service you can submit the medical certificate and other attachments digitally through My Pages as soon as we receive your application. You can see your case on My Pages within 24 hours of applying and you then click add attachments to your application.

If you are not applying via the e-service, send the medical certificate and other attachments to Försäkringskassans inläsningscentral, 839 88 Östersund.

3. We will contact you

Once we have started processing your case, we will book an appointment with you where we jointly review the additional costs that are due to your child's disability. After the conversation, the Swedish Social Insurance Agency determines what additional costs are reasonable and can be approved. We will then add up the approved additional costs to see if you can receive additional cost reimbursement.

You can prepare for the call by writing down the additional costs you have incurred due to your child's disability, the reason for the costs and how you have calculated them.

If you indicated that you need an interpreter, the administrative officer will make sure one participates in the conversation.

4. You will receive a decision

Unfortunately, we currently have long processing times, an average of eight months. You will not miss out on any money because of our processing times. If you are entitled to compensation, you will receive the money in arrears once we have made a decision on your case.

If your additional costs are at least SEK 11,825 per year, you will receive a decision on a certain monthly amount. The decision can either be indefinite or apply for a limited amount of time.

5. Disbursement

Additional cost allowance is paid out on the 18th or 19th of every month.

For special disbursement dates, see

Disbursement dates and processing times

6. Notify us if anything changes

Call your administrator if your additional costs relating to your child change. Report the change as soon as possible, but no later than 14 days after you became aware of it. Otherwise, you may be required to pay back the money.