The total pension – that is, the national pension, housing supplement and occupational pension, as well as the tax changes that affect it – will be higher for the vast majority of people in 2026.
The income and supplementary pension, which changes based on income trends in Sweden, will be increased for most people by 159 to 401 kronor before tax. However, several factors come into play and the size of the increase differs from person to person.
The changes that affect pensions can go in slightly different directions and therefore we will have a relatively large spread in how pensions develop next year. How big that change actually will be will differ at the individual level, says Alma Masic, analyst at the Swedish Pensions Agency.
“Overall increase”
The guarantee pension, however, will be reduced. 80 percent of pensioners can expect a reduction in their guarantee pension of between SEK 3 and 94.
Ten percent of pensioners with a guarantee pension will receive a greater reduction than SEK 94 and ten percent will receive a smaller reduction than SEK 3, or even an increase, says Linda Wiese, analyst at the Swedish Pensions Agency.
The reduction is because almost everyone who has a guarantee pension also has an income and supplementary pension. And when they increase, the guarantee pension, which is a complement, is reduced at the same time.
Overall, pensioners will receive an increase in supplementary, income and guarantee pensions, says Linda Wiese.
Worse for the premium pension
When it comes to the premium pension, however, it looks like there will be a more modest increase, or even a decrease.
This year's major stock market turbulence has meant that the premium pension has had a lower development compared to the large increase the previous year, says Alma Masic.
The development of premium pensions depends on which funds you as an individual have chosen – and how they perform.
80 percent of pensioners with premium pensions will see a change in kronor, from a decrease of 29 kronor to an increase of 65 kronor. Approximately a quarter will see a reduction in their premium pension, says Linda Wiese.
Starting January 1st, you can log in to the Swedish Pensions Agency's website and see how much payment you will receive, and starting December 29th, you can call.
From the turn of the year, the so-called benchmark age will be introduced in the Swedish pension system, a retirement age that is adjusted to the expected average life expectancy in Sweden and becomes a benchmark for how long we are expected to work.
The target age is set six years before it comes into effect, and affects the lowest possible age for drawing income pension and premium pension. It also affects the lowest age at which one can draw a guarantee pension and is entitled to housing allowance.
At the target age, the right to unemployment insurance and sickness benefits also ceases.
As of 2026, the target age is 67 years, which applies to people born in 1960-1964.
The target age for people born in 1965 and later is only a forecast so far, but according to the current forecast it will be 67 years for people born in 1965-1966 and 68 years for people born in 1967-1981.
Source: Swedish Pensions Agency
