Ending your membership

If you're leaving the labor market for good, for example due to retirement, you no longer need to be a member of the unemployment insurance fund. Your membership will be automatically terminated when you turn 66.

If you wish to leave earlier, you need to cancel your membership in writing. The easiest way is to fill out our form.

Are you currently receiving benefits from the unemployment insurance fund? Then it may be worth staying a member for another 12 months to protect your income.

Working within the EU/EEA When you work within the EU/EEA, you are usually insured in the country where you work and pay taxes. In Finland and Denmark, you must join the local unemployment insurance fund. You should cancel your membership with us once you start working there.

Working outside the EU/EEA (including the UK) Cancel your membership if you do not have an employer in Sweden. If you do have a Swedish employer, you should remain a member.

Full-time studies abroad If you are studying full-time abroad, you should also remain a member. This is because you may still qualify for benefits based on work done up to six years prior, if you become unemployed in Sweden after your studies.

As a business owner, it’s wise to keep your membership in the unemployment insurance fund. If your business doesn’t generate enough income, you can put it on hold and apply for benefits. This pause applies to your business in relation to us – not to the Swedish Tax Agency or the Swedish Companies Registration Office.

When you study full-time, previous work up to six years back can be counted if you apply for unemployment benefits after your studies. If you end your membership, you lose the earned membership time – and will have to start over.

If you participate in a program via Arbetsförmedlingen and receive benefits from Försäkringskassan, your benefit amount is affected if you are not a member of the unemployment fund. Without membership, the benefit is reduced.

To keep a higher benefit – stay in the unemployment fund!

If you end your membership when going on parental leave, you lose your earned membership time. You also won’t be able to base your benefits on the income you had before the leave if you lose your job.

With us, your education is what matters, and you don’t need to switch unemployment funds if you get a new job or start a business. You can stay with us throughout your entire working life, and most union income insurance policies are valid even with a membership here.

The unemployment fund can be an important safety net even during long-term illness. You can qualify for benefits with work done up to six years ago – which is why it may be wise to keep your membership.

However, if you don’t believe you’ll return to the labor market within the next 5.5 years, you may consider ending your membership. We’re happy to help you figure out what applies to your specific situation. Call us on weekdays between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM at 08-412 33 00.

If you don’t feel that unemployment insurance (a-kassa) is relevant for you right now, or if you have another reason for ending your membership, you can select “Other reason” in our form. Just keep in mind that this is an important form of insurance – and that it can take up to 12 months to qualify for income-based benefits if you decide to rejoin.

Starting October 1, 2025, new rules will apply: only income earned during your membership in the unemployment insurance fund will be counted when calculating your benefits. This means that previous income earned outside of your membership period will no longer affect the amount you may receive.

Many people find unemployment comes unexpectedly, so please take a moment to reconsider before leaving. We’re here if you’d like to talk about what applies in your specific situation. You can reach us on weekdays from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM at 08-412 33 00.