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Sideline business

Sideline business is a job you have had for at least twelve months alongside full-time employment before becoming unemployed. A sideline business does not affect your unemployment benefits, as you have shown that you can manage both full-time work and an extra job. We consider both income and working hours when deciding whether it qualifies as a sideline business or not.

Conditions for sideline business

For additional work to be considered a sideline business, the following conditions must be met:

  • You must have had the additional work alongside full-time employment* every month for at least twelve months before becoming unemployed

  • You must have earned no more than 3,060 SEK per week from the additional work (applies only to employment; if you run your own business – contact us)

  • The additional work must not prevent you from accepting other full-time jobs

  • You must not expand the sideline business during your unemployment

*If you have reduced your working hours under Section 3 of the Parental Leave Act, it is still considered full-time. The same applies if your weekly working hours were no more than five hours less than the normal full-time hours for your profession.

How to apply for a sideline business

Apply to have your sideline business approved at the same time as you apply for unemployment benefits

  • Employment: Submit an employer certificate (Arbetsgivarintyg). Request it from your employer via Mina sidor

  • Business: Fill in the form Questions for business owners in Mina sidor

Decision with hours per week

When we approve additional work as a sideline business, you will receive a decision stating the number of hours per week you are allowed to work in your sideline business. The average working hours and income you had during the twelve-month period before unemployment are used to calculate this.

Do not report sideline business hours

You should not report the hours worked in your approved sideline business in Mina sidor.

Not a basis for work requirement

A sideline business does not count toward the work requirement and therefore cannot be used as a basis for a new benefit period.

Changes to approved sideline business

If the working hours in your sideline business increase, it will no longer be considered a sideline business. This means:

  • If it is a business, the right to unemployment benefits ends

  • If it is an employment, we will deduct all hours worked

If the average income from your approved sideline business increases without working more hours and exceeds 2,190 SEK per week (before tax), the excess amount will reduce your daily benefit. Contact us if your sideline business changes; it is not enough to simply start reporting work hours.