LSS
Support and Service for Persons with Certain Functional Impairments (LSS) — guidance for families with seriously ill children in Sweden.
Table of contents
What is LSS?
LSS — Support and Service for Persons with Certain Functional Impairments (Lagen om stöd och service till vissa funktionshindrade) — is a Swedish legislation that gives people with extensive and permanent disabilities specific legal rights to support and services.
The purpose of the legislation is to enable these individuals to live as independent and fulfilling lives as possible — on equal terms with others. LSS is intended to supplement other support measures and to give individuals influence over and participation in their own lives.
Important: LSS eligibility is assessed on the basis of the child's actual support needs in daily life, not solely on the diagnosis.
When should you consider applying for LSS?
LSS may be relevant in many different situations. Common examples include:
What interventions are available?
LSS provides ten different interventions. The following are the most common for children and young people:
Relief service (avlösarservice)
Gives parents the opportunity for temporary relief from caring for the child at home.
Short-term residential stay (korttidsvistelse)
The child stays temporarily outside the home to provide the family with respite and to stimulate the child.
After-school supervision under LSS (korttidstillsyn)
Supervision for children over the age of 12 who need supervision before and after school because of their disability.
Contact person (kontaktperson)
A person outside the family who can provide support, reduce isolation and help with leisure activities.
Escort service (ledsagarservice)
Assistance to participate in community life and to travel to and from activities.
Personal assistance (personlig assistans)
Individually tailored support for basic needs such as hygiene, meals, communication and mobility.
Supported housing under LSS (boendeformer enligt LSS)
Housing with special services for those who cannot live in ordinary housing with standard support.
Responsibilities of the municipality and Försäkringskassan
The municipality's responsibility
In most cases, the municipality is responsible for LSS interventions. Applications are made to the municipal LSS case officer (LSS-handläggare) or social services office.
- •Relief service (avlösarservice)
- •Short-term residential stay (korttidsvistelse)
- •After-school supervision (korttidstillsyn)
- •Contact person (kontaktperson)
- •Escort service (ledsagarservice)
- •Personal assistance under 20 hours/week (personlig assistans)
Försäkringskassan's responsibility
The Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan) is responsible for personal assistance allowance (assistansersättning) when the need for personal assistance is more extensive.
- •Personal assistance allowance for over 20 hours/week of basic needs (assistansersättning)
- •Processing of applications for assistansersättning
- •Follow-up and review of decisions
How should medical certificates be written for LSS?
A well-written medical certificate (läkarintyg) is often decisive for an LSS application to be approved. The medical certificate should include:
Common shortcomings in medical certificates
- ✗Describing only the diagnosis without addressing its consequences in daily life.
- ✗Failing to describe how the functional impairment affects day-to-day activities.
- ✗Not describing the need for support and supervision.
Frequently asked questions about LSS
Family checklist
Further information and documents
The Document Library contains important court judgments, legal position statements and other official resources relating to LSS and support for children.