The importance of membership

Why you should be a member of a-kassan

A-kassan is a future insurance that provides financial security throughout your working life. The idea is to become a member when you start working in order to insure your salary—because no one can know exactly what the future holds. In fact, for half of the unemployed members of Akademikernas a-kassa, unemployment was very or quite unexpected.

Membership plays a major role in determining the level of benefits you can receive if you become unemployed. To receive the highest level of benefits from a-kassan, you need to have been a member during the entire so-called qualification period (ramtid).

The qualification period consists of the twelve months before the month in which you registered as unemployed. If you have been unable to work due to, for example, illness, caring for a child, or full-time studies, the qualification period can be extended by the same number of months you were unable to work.

Read more about what can extend the qualification period here.

Everyone working in Sweden can join

Being part of a-kassan when working in Sweden is a right. Even if you are not currently working, you are still eligible to join if you have worked before. One hour of work (that you have paid tax on) is enough. As a member of an a-kassa, it is important that your membership is continuous, meaning you pay your membership fee every month.

Akademikernas a-kassa insures people with higher education

To become a member of Akademikernas a-kassa, you need to be an academic. To join our a-kassa, one of the following must apply. You must:

• have at least 150 Swedish higher education credits, or

• have at least a foreign Bachelor's degree, or

• be studying at the time of application toward 180 higher education credits, or

• belong to a specific professional group organized by a Saco union.

Do you live or work abroad?

It is important for basic financial security to be covered by an unemployment insurance system. In Sweden, Denmark, and Finland, membership in an a-kassa is voluntary, and you must apply yourself. In other EU/EEA countries and Switzerland, unemployment benefits are part of the general social security system, and you are automatically covered when you work, earn a salary, and pay taxes. Note that different rules may apply for self-employed individuals.

A-kassan is voluntary in Sweden, Finland, and Denmark

In Sweden, Finland, and Denmark, unemployment insurance is fully or partly linked to membership in an a-kassa, and joining is voluntary. If you start working in one of these countries, you must apply for membership and pay the membership fee yourself to be insured.

Make sure you are insured in the correct country

Membership in a Swedish a-kassa cannot replace membership in another country’s a-kassa. If you have worked in Denmark or Finland and were not a member of the correct a-kassa, it may affect your eligibility for unemployment benefits in Sweden if you return here to look for work.

Example: If you start working in Finland, you should immediately apply for membership in a Finnish a-kassa. Once you receive confirmation of your membership, you can end your membership in Akademikernas a-kassa.