Unemployment insurance in Sweden

What is a Swedish unemployment insurance fund?

Swedish unemployment insurance funds, a-kassor, administer unemployment benefits for their members. An unemployment insurance fund is separate from a trade union, and you do not need to join a trade union to become a member of an unemployment insurance fund.

Unemployment insurance funds are often linked to specific industries or professional areas. As a general rule, you should be a member of an unemployment insurance fund in your country of employment.

If you become unemployed, your unemployment benefits are based on your previous income. In Sweden, compensation can amount to up to 80 % of your salary, up to maximum 1,200 SEK per day.

Membership fees vary between unemployment insurance funds and are often between 110 SEK and 200 SEK per month. Contact the relevant unemployment insurance fund for information about membership terms and prices.

If you work in Sweden

Joining a Swedish unemployment insurance fund is optional. However, after 12 months of membership, you may be entitled to income-related unemployment benefits if you become unemployed and meet the other conditions.

If you commute from Denmark to work in Sweden, you should normally join a Swedish unemployment insurance fund. Do not cancel your Danish membership before you have been accepted into a Swedish unemployment insurance fund.

If you live in Denmark and become fully unemployed after working in Sweden, you will normally receive unemployment benefits through the Danish system.

If you experience temporary or part-time unemployment while working in Sweden, you may be entitled to compensation from your Swedish unemployment insurance fund. Contact your unemployment insurance fund for guidance.

Every Swedish unemployment insurance fund has EU specialists who can help with questions related to cross-border commuting.

If you work in both Denmark and Sweden

If you work in more than one country, you are generally insured in the country where you are socially insured.

If you work in both Denmark and Sweden at the same time and perform 25 % or more of your work in your country of residence, you are normally socially insured there. In that case, you should usually join an unemployment insurance fund in your country of residence.

In some situations, you can apply for an exemption if you want to remain insured in your country of employment.

If you become unemployed

If you become fully unemployed, responsibility for your unemployment benefits normally transfers to your country of residence. You should therefore contact an unemployment insurance fund in your country of residence as soon as possible.

To apply for unemployment benefits, you need a PD U1 certificate from the unemployment insurance fund in your previous country of employment. The certificate documents your periods of work and insurance in the other country.

Make sure to contact the relevant unemployment insurance fund as soon as possible when changing countries or insurance systems, as gaps in membership may affect your right to benefits.

Special rules may apply if you are temporarily posted by your employer to work in another country. Contact your unemployment insurance fund for guidance.

Income insurance

In both Denmark and Sweden, you can take out optional income insurance that supplements unemployment benefits for a limited period.

If you live in one country and work in another, you should normally keep your income insurance in your country of residence. Check with your insurance provider whether your policy covers cross-border commuting.

If you move to another country, remember to take out new income insurance in your new country of residence.

Read about Swedish unemployment insurance funds at Sveriges a-kassor