legal and social conditions for asylum seekers and refugees in ...

SOCIAL CONDITIONS FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS
Accommodation
The National Immigration Board (SIV) is responsible for the conditions of reception of asylum
seekers and it must ensure that sufficient accommodation is provided to all of them.
Asylum seekers arriving to Sweden are normally briefly accommodated in an investigation centre
before being transferred to a residence centre, where they stay whilst their application is processed.
All these centres are run by the SIV itself.
Currently, there are six centres used exclusively as investigation centres. These are located in
Stockholm, Göteborg and Malmö. In addition, a number of smaller investigation centres are located
inside residence centres in other Swedish cities.
Applicants stay in the investigation centres for a few days only. During this time, they are registered
and some practical issues are being dealt with. After this, they are transferred to a residence centre.
There are no available statistics on the average period spent in the residence centres.
In the residence centres, asylum seekers usually live in furnished self-catering flats. Families
generally live together, while single persons are accommodated in shared flats, normally at least two
persons per room.
Accommodation in the investigation or residence centres is not compulsory, and asylum seekers
may stay outside the centres, if they have relatives or friends living in Sweden. Currently, about 50%
of them are staying outside the centres. The SIV is not responsible for the accommodation of asylum
seekers who choose to live outside the centres. However, they have always the option to move to a
centre if they wish so.
Financial assistance
Asylum seekers without their own means are entitled to an allowance designed to cover clothing
and shoes, medical treatment and medicine, dental treatment, toiletries and leisure activities.
Asylum seekers living outside the centres and those living in a centre where they must prepare
their own meals receive the following approximate monthly allowances:
Single adult SEK 2,130 EUR 255.6
Couple SEK 3,660 EUR 439.2
Child (0-17) SEK 1,350 EUR 162
From the third child SEK 675 EUR 81
Asylum seekers who live in a centre where meals are provided receive the following amount:
Single adult SEK 720 EUR 86.4
Couple SEK 1,140 EUR 136.8
Child (0-17) SEK 360 EUR 43.2
From the third child SEK 180 EUR 21.6
In addition, asylum seekers staying outside the centres receive an additional monthly allowance of
SEK 500 [EUR 60] per single applicant, or SEK 1,000 [EUR 120] per family.
These amounts have not changed since 1997.
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Sweden