All tax-paying people in Sweden can apply for social benefits, the most common of which are child and housing benefits. The Försäkringskassan, or social insurance office is responsible for this:

• http://www.forsakringskassan.se

If you're a European national and know you’ll be unemployed for a period of time while you’re looking for work in Sweden you should get hold of an E303 form. This form will allow you to claim unemployment benefits for up to three months in any EU member state. When you arrive in Sweden it’s important that you register at an employment office as a jobseeker; bring your E303 form with you. They will be able to advise you on a range of job-related issues. The Swedish unemployment insurance system is somewhat unusual: after a qualifiying period anyone over 20 is covered by basic unemployment insurance, but most workers belong to a voluntary Unemployment Insurance Fund, which provides income-related insurance up to a certain limit. Information about the system is provided in several languages on the following site:

• http://www.iaf.se

Since this income-related insurance is generally below workers’ earnings more and more trade unions are also offering extra insurance coverage.

If you have not worked long enough to qualify for Swedish unemployment benefits you may still be able to get the autorities to take into account work undertaken elsewhaere, in which case an E301 form will be required as proof of your previous employment. Once again the www.iaf.se site is the place to look for more information.

You may be able to get an occupational injury annuity and a funeral allowance if you have lost a family member due to a work injury or an accident on the way to or from the workplace.

As a pensioner you may be eligible for a housing supplement, which is means-tested.