Parental benefit planner

Fact-checked on 27 August 2026 against Försäkringskassan’s current rules and amounts.

Swedish parental benefit (föräldrapenning) can get complicated quickly: the payment depends on your SGI, an SGI cap, your withdrawal level (full/half/quarter day), how many days per week you withdraw – and how many days you take at sickness level versus the flat base level.

Quick answer for 2026

For one child, Swedish parental benefit covers 480 days: 390 income-based days at sickness benefit level and 90 minimum-level days at SEK 180 per day. A full sickness-level day is between SEK 250 and SEK 1,259 in 2026. If two parents share the days, each initially receives 240 days, and 90 sickness-level days per parent are reserved and cannot be transferred to the other parent.

The first 180 days used for the child must be sickness-level days. If the 240-day condition was not met before the birth, those first 180 sickness-level days are paid at the SEK 250 basic rate; the calculator lets you account for days already used by the child. After that, minimum-level days can also be used. Försäkringskassan makes the final SGI and eligibility decision; this calculator provides a planning estimate.

Worked example: SEK 36,000 monthly income

Assume a monthly SGI-based income of SEK 36,000, full-day withdrawal five days per week, and an estimated 30% tax rate. The calculator uses annual SGI of SEK 432,000 and estimates:

• SEK 918 gross per full sickness-level day
• about SEK 19,945 gross per average month at five days per week
• about SEK 13,961 after the entered 30% tax estimate

Actual monthly payments vary with the number and type of days withdrawn in that calendar month. Change only one input at a time—such as five versus seven days per week—to see how the payment and duration change.

With this calculator you can:

• estimate benefit per day, per month and in total
• see the effect of the SGI cap (10 price base amounts)
• plan how long your selected days last in the calendar based on withdrawal level and days per week
• compare setups (for example 100% for 5 days/week vs 50% for 7 days/week)

Start with the right inputs

The estimate is only as good as the numbers you enter. A good starting point is:

• Benefit year: price base amounts and caps change each year.
• Monthly income (SGI): gross income that your SGI is based on.
• Withdrawal level per day: 100% = full day, 50% = half day, 25% = quarter day.
• Days per week: how many days per week you plan to withdraw benefit.
• Sickness-level days and base-level days: how you split the days you will use.
• Tax rate: Försäkringskassan withholds preliminary tax; adjust if you want a net estimate that better matches your situation.

Tip: To compare two setups, keep income and tax rate the same and change only withdrawal level / days per week.

SGI and the SGI cap (10 price base amounts)

Sickness-level parental benefit is based on your SGI (sickness benefit qualifying income). In simplified terms:

• the calculation uses 80% of your SGI
• a full day is SGI × 0.97 × 0.8 / 365, rounded to whole kronor, with a minimum basic level of SEK 250
• there is a cap where SGI used in the calculation is limited to 10 price base amounts

The calculator applies the price base amount for the year you select and shows the SGI actually used when the cap applies.

Two levels: sickness level and base level

Parental benefit days are commonly split into two main types:

• Sickness level: paid based on SGI (up to 390 days per child)
• Base level: a flat level (SEK 180 per day in this calculator) up to 90 days

Försäkringskassan calls the SEK 180 days minimum-level days. The calculator retains “base level” in some result labels, but it represents the same minimum-level days.

In the calculator you enter how many days you plan to take at each level. The results show both daily and total amounts for each level.

Withdrawal level: the same days can last longer

The withdrawal level affects two things at the same time:

1. Payment per day: withdrawing 50% gives roughly half the daily amount.
2. How long the days last in the calendar: a lower withdrawal level means you consume fewer benefit days per calendar week.

That’s why the calculator also estimates:

• Benefit days used per week (after withdrawal level)
• How many calendar months your selected days may last

This is especially useful if you want to spread leave over a longer period.

How to interpret the results

The results include:

• Daily benefit (gross and net)
• Monthly benefit (gross and net) based on your setup
• Total benefit for the entered days
• Days remaining (out of 480 total parental benefit days)

Note: The monthly amount is an average based on how long the days are expected to last in the calendar with your settings. Actual payments can vary between months depending on your exact withdrawal pattern.

Common pitfalls

• Forgetting the SGI cap: a higher income may have less effect than expected once the cap applies.
• Mixing up benefit days and calendar days: a lower withdrawal level can make the same number of days last longer.
• Underestimating tax: preliminary tax is an estimate. Adjust the tax rate if you want a more realistic net view.
• Forgetting the bigger picture: parental benefit is one part of your household budget. Consider housing costs and a buffer too.

Checklist for planning and budgeting

• What SGI is used in the calculation (does the cap apply)?
• How many days will you take at sickness level versus base level?
• What withdrawal level will you use in different periods?
• How many days per week will you withdraw (for example 5 vs 7)?
• Does the net estimate look reasonable with your chosen tax rate?

Important to know

This is a preliminary estimate based on your inputs and simplified assumptions. Rules, SGI assessment and practical application can vary depending on your situation. Always verify terms and the latest guidance from Försäkringskassan.

Other planning rules can matter: parents can use up to 60 double days during the child’s first 15 months, and only 96 days in total can normally remain after the child’s fourth birthday. Read Försäkringskassan’s English parental-benefit guide and compare with its official parental-benefit calculator before applying.