Today there are groups on social media where private individuals can ask strangers for money. People are looking for loans and money gifts for, among other things, food, medicine and means of transport.

It is about sick leave, people who live on social security benefits and people with low pay who have it barely at the end of the month. The groups have several thousand members and continue to grow.

Social media an extra support

Magnus from Södertälje has been seeking help through the groups for over a year. Although he receives compensation from the Social Insurance Office, he needs help every month.

- I lack fixed income, go on low contribution. It's not far enough. Sometimes I go to a church and eat food and sometimes I collect deposit cans.

In the Stockholm region, over 250,000 people live with low financial standards, according to Statistics Sweden. Most of Södertälje - and Botkyrka municipality live with low disposable income.

There is a great need

"Tobias" is the moderator of about ten of these groups. He thinks the need is great.

- An estimate is that there are about 80 percent applicants and 20 percent donors, so obviously not everyone gets help but many get it.

The fact that it is possible to draw parallels between asking for money gifts and begging is not a "Tobias" view.

- I do not think so. It's not begging, it's a help search.