Sweden raises benefits for its poorest pensioners

The Swedish government has announced that it would invest an extra 2.1 billion SEK annually to increase security for pensioners who "have it the toughest", said a press release issued on Thursday.

"We want to give all guarantee pensioners an extra SEK 200 (22.10 U.S. dollars) per month and greatly increase the ceiling in the housing supplement for pensioners," the release quoted Social Insurance Minister Annika Strandhall as saying.

In total, around 800,000 pensioners will benefit from the raise.

"Guarantee pensioners" are those whose only income is the government pension - mostly people who worked full-time in basic occupations like truck driving, nursing or kindergarten teaching.

The increased benefits will also affect pensioners living off their own income pension. The proposal is based on the principle that the system should reward people for working.

Housing supplements will also be raised as part of the deal. Income testing for the housing supplement has changed in order to reflect the current housing market so that money is directed to those most in need.

"The differences in income between pensioners who have the lowest incomes and others in society have increased for a long time," explained the government in the press release, adding that the increase was proposed "in order to disrupt this development."