Up to 60 months can be disregarded
When the income requirement is assessed, employment income earned during the qualification period is counted. With disregarded months, the qualification period can be extended — and up to 60 months may be disregarded. This means that in some cases, compensation can include income that is up to 6 years old in its calculation.
Months in which you earned 11,000 SEK or more are generally not eligible to be disregarded.
The qualification period
The qualification period begins the month before you register with Arbetsförmedlingen and apply for unemployment compensation. It extends a total of 12 months back in time. If there are months during that period where you earned less than SEK 11,000 and were unable to work due to, for example, illness, care of a sick child or full-time studies, the qualification period can be extended.
Sick leave
If you have received compensation from Försäkringskassan, you must indicate this in your application. We can then verify the information with Försäkringskassan.
If you have not received compensation from Försäkringskassan, you must provide a medical certificate to confirm the period.
Full-time studies
The studies must be completed — meaning you must either have finished them or withdrawn.
Parental benefit or care of child
Months during which you have mostly been at home caring for a child may be disregarded in the following situations:
When you have received parental benefit.
When you have cared for your own child under the age of two without receiving parental benefit.
When you have cared for an adopted child for up to two years after the child joined the family.
When you have received temporary parental benefit (VAB).
Post doc
If you receive a post doc scholarship, it is considered studies and the time can be disregarded.
If you receive a salary as a post doc, it is considered work and the time cannot be disregarded.
Work abroad can be included in the income requirement if you were employed in an EU/EEA country, but work outside the EU/EEA cannot be included and the time cannot be disregarded.
Other reasons
There are also other circumstances that may qualify as disregarded time. This applies if the applicant:
Has cared for a close relative according to the rules for relative care
Has been involuntarily treated for substance abuse
Has been prohibited from working due to decisions under the Communicable Diseases Act or the Food Act
Has participated in military training as a recruit
Has worked under special employment support
Has accompanied a cohabiting partner who worked abroad for an employer based in Sweden and received Swedish salary
Has been deprived of liberty