If your child gets sick during your vacation, in Sweden you can in some cases switch from vacation days to temporary parental benefit (vab). But you can only do so if you meet certain conditions. Make sure you follow the correct procedure if your child gets sick during your vacation.
When can you switch your vacation to temporary parental benefits?
You’re only allowed to interrupt your vacation and claim temporary parental benefits if your child becomes ill while in Sweden, another EU/EEA country, or Switzerland. If your child gets sick, you also have to:
- Contact your employer and inform them that you wish to switch your vacation days for temporary parental benefits.
- Officially stop using your vacation days. You can’t receive both vacation pay and compensation for caring for your sick child for the same days.
If you’re outside the EU/EEA during your vacation
You can’t switch vacation days to temporary parental benefits if you’re in a country outside the EU/EEA. However, if your child becomes sick before traveling, you can be allowed to claim compensation for caring for your sick child during your trip. In order to do so, you have to get approval from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan) before departing on your vacation.
Follow these steps
- Contact your employer as soon as possible—preferably the same day your child gets sick.
- Apply for compensation from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency digitally. You have to do it no later than 90 days after the first day your child was sick.
- If your child is sick for more than a week, you’ll probably need a doctor’s certificate.
Keep in mind
If you’re a teacher with a vacation-based contract, the same rules apply. This means you’re allowed to switch your vacation days to temporary parental benefits.
If your child is sick for longer periods (if the child for instance is hospitalized), there are special rules that allow unlimited days of temporary parental benefits with medical documentation.
Your employer isn’t allowed to demand a doctor’s note. However they can request proof from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency if they suspect your child wasn’t ill.
What happens to the vacation days you initially requested?
The vacation days you switch to temporary parental benefits will be returned to your vacation day balance. For example, if you requested 20 vacation days and switch 5 of them to temporary parental benefits, you’ll get those 5 vacation days back to use later. When and how you take those days is something you have to agree upon with your employer.
Do you need legal help?
We have several lawyers who can help you in this area. Book an appointment with one of them in the Kliently app, or contact us to hire one of the lawyers. We recommend: Dlovan Kassab,
Samir Baraka
