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Disregarded time

If you have not been working, the qualification period for the work requirement can be extended by the same number of months you were prevented from working. This allows us to consider work or self-employment that took place further back in time than the past year.

Up to five years can be disregarded

Each month that we can extend the qualification period with is considered disregarded time. A maximum of five years can be disregarded, and we can calculate based on the sixth year.

Sick leave

  • If you have received benefits from Försäkringskassan, you state this in your application. We will then verify it with Försäkringskassan.

  • If you have not received benefits from Försäkringskassan, you must provide a medical certificate to verify the period.

Full-time studies

  • The studies must be completed – meaning you must have finished or dropped out.

  • Full-time studies can be disregarded if you were at least 25 years old when the studies ended or if you worked full-time for at least five months before the studies.

If you worked more than 60 hours per month during full-time studies, the month can never be disregarded and will count toward the work requirement.

Parental benefits or care of children

Months during which you were mostly at home with children can be disregarded in the following situations:

  • When you received full parental benefits for at least half-time.

  • When you cared for your own child under the age of two without receiving parental benefits.

  • When you cared for an adopted a child, for up to two years after the child’s arrival.

  • When you received temporary parental benefits for at least half-time.

If you worked more than 60 hours per month, the month cannot be disregarded and will count toward the work requirement.

Postdoc

  • If you receive a postdoc scholarship, it is considered studies and the time can be disregarded.

  • If you receive a salary as a postdoc, it is considered work and the time cannot be disregarded.

  • Work abroad can be counted toward the work requirement if you were employed in an EU/EEA country, but work outside the EU/EEA cannot be counted and the time cannot be disregarded.

Other reasons

  • Caring for a close relative under the rules for care of a relative

  • Being involuntarily committed for substance abuse

  • Not being allowed to work due to decisions under the Communicable Diseases Act or the Food Act

  • Participating in military training as a recruit

  • Working under special employment support

  • Accompanying your cohabiting partner when they worked abroad for an employer based in Sweden and with a Swedish salary

  • Being deprived of liberty