News · Family · Published 10 July 2026
New VAB rules used most often for school meetings, agency finds
DailySweden Editorial Desk
Updated 23:37 · 3 min read
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Parents have used Sweden’s expanded VAB rules most often to attend meetings at a child’s preschool or school, according to the first follow-up of the reform by Försäkringskassan.
Three new situations became eligible for temporary parental benefit on 1 January 2026. The agency said almost 2,500 people used at least one of the new options during the first half of the year.
The most common use was a meeting at a preschool or school connected to a child’s illness or disability. Försäkringskassan recorded 1,580 people using VAB for that purpose.
A second option covers parents who need to participate in an assessment or preliminary assessment concerning their child at social services. The agency said 870 people used the benefit in that situation.
The third allows a parent to claim VAB while teaching preschool or school staff about a child’s need for self-care, such as support connected to diabetes or eczema. That option was used by 120 people.
Försäkringskassan said the new categories account for only a very small share of total VAB payments. Its follow-up also found that most parents claimed the benefit for only part of a day rather than a full day.
Use has been concentrated among children of school age. The largest amount under the three new situations was claimed in relation to 11-year-old children, according to the agency.
The figures provide an early picture of how families are using rights introduced at the start of the year. School and preschool meetings clearly form the largest category, ahead of social-services assessments and training staff to manage a child’s self-care needs.
The reform does not create a general entitlement for any school meeting. Försäkringskassan describes the eligible meeting as one held because of the child’s illness or disability.
For affected families, the new rules mean that a parent can receive temporary parental benefit while taking part in these specific activities. The first-half figures show that the option is being used, but remains a small part of Sweden’s overall VAB system.
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