The Social Welfare Committee in Ystad Municipality is criticised for repeated attempts to conduct unannounced home visits in benefits cases

Summary of the decision: Within the scope of an investigation into financial assistance, a social welfare committee attempted to conduct several unannounced visits to the home of the person applying for benefits. On two occasions, the individual was given 10 minutes notice of the home visit by text message. On a third occasion, the committee telephoned the individual approximately 20 minutes before the planned visit.

In their decision, the Parliamentary Ombudsmen gives an account of the legal conditions for conducting home visits in such cases. The Parliamentary Ombudsman also states that the home visits that the committee attempted to conduct must be considered to be unannounced, as the individual was given neither time nor opportunity to consider whether she consented to the home visit. The Social Welfare Committee is criticised for attempting to conduct unannounced home visits on multiple occasions in the case.