The ISSA Good Practice Award for Europe 2022 has been awarded to the Swedish Pensions Agency for its Withdrawal Planner, an easy-to-use digital tool for retirement planning integrating both public and private pensions.
Since its launch in 2019, the Withdrawal Planner (Uttagsplaneraren) has become a popular tool, in particular for people between 55 and 65 years of age. A typical user has eight pension pots from five different sources, which are all grouped together in the Planner. Users can create and compare plans with different withdrawal periods and options, to decide about the future withdrawal of their entire pension, both public and private. The tool provides independent and reliable help that makes retirement easier to understand and anticipate. It allows one to make informed choices about one’s pension and the flexibility to make changes later on.
Cooperation between the state and the pension industry, and user tests to gain a solid understanding of customer behaviour were crucial elements in the development of the Withdrawal Planner. The Swedish Pensions Agency made active use of the ISSA Guidelines on Communication by Social Security Administrations, in particular when it came to segmenting stakeholders into groups, ensuring client-centric information, the use of information and communication technology, and providing information to citizens and clients about benefits and services.
“The Withdrawal Planner is an excellent, easy-to-use and client-oriented solution for pensioners, and I congratulate the Swedish Pensions Agency on this achievement”, said ISSA Secretary General Marcelo Abi‑Ramia Caetano on the occasion of the Ceremony of the ISSA Good Practice Award for Europe.
The Award was handed out on the occasion of the Regional Social Security Forum for Europe, taking place in Tallinn, Estonia from 2 to 3 May 2022. The Swedish Pensions Agency came on top in the competition with 96 entries from 32 organizations in 20 countries, a record participation for the European Award.
“Many look forward to retiring. Few look forward to planning their pension. The Swedish Pensions Agency and minPension have, together with the pensions industry, developed a tool that is focused on the user's perspective and provides individual support with decisions that are perceived as complicated. This award is an honorable confirmation that we are taking steps to make life easier for individual’s preretirement planning”, said Daniel Barr, Director General of the Swedish Pensions Agency.
Meeting the needs of an ageing population is one of the topics covered in a new report on Priorities for social security – Europe released by the ISSA in connection with the event. The Swedish Pensions Agency will also be showcasing the Withdrawal Planner in the Innovation Zone during the 16th ISSA International Conference on Information and Communication Technology in Social Security, which follows the Regional Forum and also takes place in Tallinn from 4 to 6 May 2022. Both events are hosted by the Estonian National Insurance Board.