Response to interpellation 2025/26:276 on authorities' work to detect domestic violence
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerns Försäkringskassan's work to detect violence in close relationships. M argues that the government prioritizes combating violence and that Försäkringskassan has a mandate to compile information on economic violence as well as to train staff 1. M emphasizes that the agency continues to ask about violence in investigations, but with caution following a JO judgment 2 3 4. S criticizes M for not having taken measures after the JO judgment and claims that case officers have been urged not to ask questions about violence regarding sickness benefit 5. S also argues that the removal of dialogue assistance regarding maintenance is a betrayal of women 6.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Äldre- och socialförsäkringsministern Anna Tenje (M)
Madam Speaker! Åsa Eriksson has asked me if I intend to take any measures so that Försäkringskassan shall contribute to detecting violence in relationships.
Preventing and combating violence and violations in close relationships is a high-priority issue for the government. In this, the management of the relevant authorities is a very important tool.
The Government has during the autumn given several agencies, including Försäkringskassan, renewed mandates to compile and disseminate information on economic aspects of domestic violence within their areas of operation. According to the mandate, the agencies shall, among other things, ensure that their employees have adequate knowledge to prevent, detect, and counteract economic violence, as well as counteract perpetrators of violence exploiting their routines and systems (A2025/00884).
Since 2019, Försäkringskassan has also been tasked with increasing the detection of the violence covered by the current national strategy to prevent and combat men's violence against women. Försäkringskassan is therefore actively working to detect and counteract violence, among other things through specific measures such as training and information campaigns.
The Government's action program to prevent and combat men's violence against women, violence in close relationships, honor-related violence and oppression, as well as prostitution and human trafficking during 2024–2026 contains a large number of other important initiatives and measures (A2024/00869). The action program includes, among other things, a so-called exit program, which consists of a number of measures aimed at facilitating and enabling a way out of a violent or destructive life situation.
The government has additionally appointed a council for women's peace including, among others, the Prime Minister and the ministers responsible for crime fighting, psychiatry, social services and gender equality in order to prevent and combat men's violence against women. The council shall be a forum for cooperation and exchange of information to strengthen the conditions for a systematized and developed work to prevent and combat men's violence against women. The work in the council shall be guided by a zero vision for lethal violence against women and take into account a child perspective.
The Government will continue to follow the developments in the area and the important work that Försäkringskassan and other actors are undertaking. It is central to being able to prevent, counteract, and combat violence and oppression on a broad front throughout our entire society.
Åsa Eriksson (S)
Madam Speaker! It is actually painful to take part in Anna Tenje's answer to this question. As far as I can hear, she has not lifted a finger since the JO judgment came in May so that the Försäkringskassan case officers can continue to ask that very important question about violence in a relationship when they investigate sickness benefit cases. It is frustrating. Above all, it is a betrayal of all those women who live with men who subject them to different types of violence every day.
It is also completely obvious that the beautiful words about the importance of combating men's violence against women, which we all stand behind, are empty words – at least when it concerns Försäkringskassan and its mission to investigate the right to sickness benefit.
Madam Speaker! Let me explain the background. Försäkringskassan and a number of other authorities have, since the Social Democratic government mandated them to do so in 2018, been tasked with increasing the detection of violence in close relationships. This led to Försäkringskassan introducing routine questions in certain types of cases, including sickness benefit cases. In May, however, a ruling was issued by JO stating that it is an error for a case officer to ask questions about violence when the right to sickness benefit is being investigated.
I have taken note of one of the Försäkringskassan information messages from the sickness insurance department from November 7 last year, which states that the chapter on asking questions about violence has been reworked. I then contacted a case officer investigating the right to sickness benefit and was informed that they have been urged to no longer ask questions about violence in a relationship when they investigate the right to sickness benefit. This is obviously extremely problematic given all the thousands of women who suffer every day.
Madam Speaker! On November 27 last year, Anna Tenje received a question from my colleague Ida Karkiainen regarding this, and then Anna Tenje answered that she did not know about the judgment but that she "would definitely ensure that Försäkringskassan continues to ask questions about violence in relationships." Despite this, I have not been able to find any traces that Anna Tenje or anyone else in the government has taken any measures. I therefore ask Anna Tenje to inform me and everyone else about what she has done so that Försäkringskassan's case officers will continue to ask these important questions. It is, in fact, our responsibility to do everything we can everywhere to detect violence and help those who suffer from it out of the situation.
Äldre- och socialförsäkringsministern Anna Tenje (M)
Madam Speaker! I thank you for the interpellation.
Let me clarify: Försäkringskassan's important mission remains, and the authority will also continue to ask about violence and contribute to detecting and countering violence in close relationships. But just as the member describes, Försäkringskassan has, as a result of criticism from JO, adapted and changed its way of working in the area. Among other things, a new methodological support regarding providing information about violence has been developed, and in order to be able to detect violence and offer guidance to help and support, Försäkringskassan asks questions about violence in meetings with individuals in the processing of certain benefits when there is reason to assume that the answers are significant for the assessment. It is, however, of importance that questions about violence and violations are asked with tact and great respect.
The work has therefore definitely not ceased. On the contrary, intensified work is underway to improve the detection of violence in close relationships. A special working group within the agency has, for example, developed methodological support and educational materials, and knowledge-raising initiatives are also being carried out for both employees and managers within Försäkringskassan in this area. The work has, among other things, been carried out together with Arbetsförmedlingen, Jämställdhetsmyndigheten, Migrationsverket, and Socialstyrelsen based on a previous government mandate on increased cooperation specifically to improve the detection of violence in close relationships. It is only by identifying those who are subjected to violence that one can identify and coordinate support to the correct authority. The mandate also includes detecting honor-related violence and oppression and providing support to those affected.
Åsa Eriksson (S)
Madam Speaker! It is good that Försäkringskassan has taken measures. I did not hear that the government has done anything, but perhaps it was not necessary.
If I understand Anna Tenje correctly, Försäkringskassan is asked about violence when it is called for. When is that? Is it when someone arrives with bruises on their face? Why not continue with the routine question so that we can detect as many types of violence as possible? Regardless of the JO judgment, it should be possible to develop routines that are compatible with it, since Arbetsförmedlingen routinely asks questions about violence in the meeting with job seekers. According to case officers at Arbetsförmedlingen, one continues to ask questions about violence because it is important for the job seeker's ability to take a job. How can it be different at different state agencies? Anna Tenje is welcome to elaborate on her answer.
Madam Speaker! Something else that has happened during the Tidö government is that Försäkringskassan no longer offers the possibility of dialogue assistance regarding maintenance. This was removed in 2023, according to information from Försäkringskassan. I guess it is because it was the same year that Försäkringskassan received reduced administrative grants from Anna Tenje's government. This is a slap in the face to women who have managed to get out of a violent relationship and who cannot get the father of the joint children to pay reasonable maintenance.
One of all these women has contacted me, and she writes as follows: ”I fled from a man who subjected me to violence, both physically, mentally, sexually, and economically. He also subjected the children to mental and physical violence. Previously, there was an opportunity for a meeting with Försäkringskassan if the parents did not agree on appropriate maintenance. There was then an official who was knowledgeable and skilled who could attempt to mediate. This has now been completely removed. The parents must agree themselves. How easy is it to go to the man who has beaten, humiliated, and subjected you to violence and ask for more money? Who seriously believes that he will say yes?”
I wonder what Anna Tenje is doing in her management of Försäkringskassan to ensure that this opportunity for dialogue assistance is reintroduced. I believe this is extremely important for many of the women who today are struggling with finances and struggling to afford food and winter clothes for the children and who do not receive reasonable maintenance after they have left the children's father.
In addition to the question of what distinguishes Försäkringskassan and Arbetsförmedlingen, since the former is supposed to ask questions about violence when it is called for while the latter does so routinely, I wonder if the Minister intends to take measures so that Försäkringskassan can again offer dialogue assistance regarding questions about maintenance.
Äldre- och socialförsäkringsministern Anna Tenje (M)
Madam Speaker! Let me first have it recorded in the minutes that I did not say "called for" but that it was the member himself who used that word.
Let me clarify again: Försäkringskassan's important mission remains, and the agency will also continue to inquire about violence and contribute to detecting and countering violence in close relationships.
During a question time, I received a question about the JO ruling. Immediately afterwards, I contacted Försäkringskassan to hear whether this was true or not, because I was not aware of it and thought it was very important to continue the important work of detecting and countering violence in close relationships.
I believe, however, that the member thinks it is important that JO's criticism has been taken into account. Försäkringskassan has subsequently changed its way of working in the area so that one can continue to ask the question but with great caution and respect. A new methodological support has been developed in order to be able to continue asking the question, detecting and providing information about violence, and offering guidance and support to those they have spoken with.
Just as I have explained, I do not know what differs between Arbetsförmedlingen and Försäkringskassan, if anything at all. They have different mandates and different parts that form the basis, but the main purpose is the same, namely to counteract, to detect, and to ensure that help and support reaches those who are vulnerable, mostly women. Then one can have different ways of moving forward to get there.
As I said in my previous speech, it is Arbetsförmedlingen that, together with Migrationsverket, Socialstyrelsen, and Jämställdhetsmyndigheten, cooperates and collaborates with Försäkringskassan to reach even a little further and become better at detecting violence in close relationships.
The government is also doing a great deal of other things in this area. It is clear with all desirable clarity that men's violence against women is and has been an issue of the highest priority for the government. Now we are moving forward, not least in terms of legislation, and making significant changes when it comes to turning the tide, looking after the crime victims, and ensuring that the one who has committed these horrific crimes is definitely punished for it.
Social insurance constitutes a central part of the entire public security system and also affects a very large part of the population. To ensure a legally secure management of social insurance, an active equality work is needed.
Försäkringskassan is one of the agencies that actively work with gender equality integration as well as counter men's violence against women, violence in close relationships, and honor-related violence and oppression. This is done, among other things, through specific measures such as training for managers and case officers and other information campaigns. This is a large and solid piece of work that we take very seriously, and we maintain a close dialogue with the agency.
Åsa Eriksson (S)
Madam Speaker! The first part is a simple question: Does Anna Tenje's answer mean that Försäkringskassan always carefully asks about violence in a relationship when they investigate sickness benefit cases?
The second part is that Anna Tenje did not comment at all on the fact that Försäkringskassan no longer offers dialogue support for parents to reach an agreement on reasonable maintenance support. I therefore give Anna Tenje another opportunity to answer the question.
So: Can I interpret Anna Tenje's answer as that Försäkringskassan will continue to always ask the question about violence when they investigate the right to sickness benefit? And will Anna Tenje take measures so that Försäkringskassan again offers dialogue assistance for parents who do not agree on the level of maintenance support?
Äldre- och socialförsäkringsministern Anna Tenje (M)
Madam Speaker! As I have explained in my contributions, a whole host of initiatives and assignments from the government are underway within several of the state's agencies to contribute to the important work against, among other things, violence against women, violence in close relationships, and honor-related violence and oppression. It is a very pressing issue for the government.
I am pleased to be able to reassure the members and all listeners that Försäkringskassan has not ceased to ask questions about violence when they conduct investigations. The agency is also working systematically to integrate a gender equality perspective into its core operations, and countering violence in close relationships is a prioritized goal in this work.
Again: The Government takes the issue of violence against women very seriously. Getting the question is extremely important, and daring to ask is often described as a fundamental prerequisite for being able to identify and help a person who is in a difficult situation. The government mandate that several agencies are now working further with will be important in the continued work out in the operations. In this, they have the government's full support.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.