Sweden to discontinue payments of the guarantee pension to beneficiaries outside Sweden at the turn of the year 

Sweden has decided to discontinue payments of the guarantee pension (garantipension) to beneficiaries in Finland who were born in 1938 or later. The effective date for the discontinuation is 1 January 2023. This change may impact the benefits that certain current garantipension recipients may get from Kela.

Sweden has decided to discontinue payments of the guarantee pension to some foreign recipients with effect from 1 January 2023. The decision applies to those born in 1938 and later who receive a guarantee pension (garantipension) or survivor's pension (garantipension till omställningspension) from Sweden. If you are entitled to a Swedish guarantee pension as of September 2022, you will be paid the pension until the end of this year.

Persons born in 1937 or earlier will continue to get a guarantee pension also after the turn of the year. The decision to discontinue payments of the guarantee pension also does not apply to the guarantee pension paid on top of a spouse’s pension (garantipension till änkepension). That will continue to be paid as normal.

Occupational pensions paid by the Swedish Pensions Agency (Pensionsmyndigheten) or Swedish occupational pension providers will not be affected. Occupational pensions, whether paid by the Swedish Pensions Agency (inkomstpension, premiepension, inkomstpensionstillägg, tilläggspension) or by occupational pension providers, will continue to be paid to recipients outside Sweden.

At the end of September, the Swedish Pensions Agency will send a letter to current recipients of a guarantee pension informing them of the discontinuation of the pension. A formal decision about the discontinuation of the pension will be sent to recipients in December.

Check your eligibility for other Kela benefits

If you were born in 1938 and get a guarantee pension from Sweden, and you also get a guarantee pension or additional front-veteran’s supplement from Kela that is adjusted to your Swedish guarantee pension, your Kela benefits must be reviewed.

The housing allowance for pensioners can be reviewed if the discontinuation of the Swedish guarantee pension causes a significant change in the recipient's annual income. It is not yet known what will count as a significant change in annual income in 2023, but as of the current year, it is defined as a decrease in income of €472 per year. 

You may become entitled to a Kela guarantee pension when your Swedish guarantee pension is discontinued. In order to get a guarantee pension from Kela, your total pension income must remain below a specific limit. The limit is currently €878.47 per month. Next year’s limit has not yet been finalised. If your total pension income exceeds this limit, you cannot get a guarantee pension.

You can apply for Kela benefits or for the review of a benefit you are currently paid in the OmaKela e-service (www.kela.fi/omakela in Finnish or www.fpa.fi/mittfpa in Swedish). To access the e-service, you will need your online bank access codes, a mobile ID, or an electronic ID card. You can also file a verbal application by contacting Kela by phone or sending a paper application to Kela. The application must be accompanied by information about any foreign pensions you will be paid in 2023.

If you were born in 1937 or earlier and you receive a guarantee pension from Sweden, you do not have to do anything. You will continue to be paid your guarantee pension.

Customer service by phone

• Pensions: 020 634 2650 (when calling from abroad +358 20 634 2650), Monday to Friday 9–16
• International situations: 020 634 0200 (when calling from abroad +358 20 634 0200), Monday to Friday 10‒15

Application forms

• Application for review (in Finnish) – National pension/Guarantee pension/Additional front veterans’ supplement (E 285)
• Application – Housing allowance for pensioners (AE 1e)
• Application – Guarantee pension (GE 1e)

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