Swedish Court Restores Guarantee Pension for Retiree Living in Spain

The Gö­teborg Court of Appeal ruled that a Swedish pensioner who moved to Spain in 2022 remains entitled to the state’s guarantee pension. The court overturned an earlier decision by the Administrative Court in Karlstad and the Pensions Authority, which had stopped payments after a 2023 law change that withdrew the benefit for Swedes living abroad. The ruling cites EU coordination rules, stating that a cash benefit classified as a minimum guarantee cannot be withdrawn solely because the recipient resides in another EU member state. Around 58,000 Swedish pensioners abroad were affected by the 2023 change, including roughly 2,400 in Spain. The judgment is expected to set a precedent for similar cases involving expatriate pensioners.