About the insurance

Everyone working in Sweden with a general work permit can apply join the a-kassa. A-kassa members have the opportunity to receive payments based on their income. If you are not a member you can still be eligible for unemployment benefit but at a basic rate.

Benefits based on your income

Benefit rates are based on your previous income at a maximum of SEK 1,200 per day before taxes (SEK 26,400 a month). In order to receive income-related benefit, the following criteria need to be met:

  • You need to be unemployed and registered at Arbetsförmedlingen.
  • You need to have fulfilled the work requirement, in other words have worked a minimum of 60 hours per month for 6 months.
  • You need to have been a member of an a-kassa during at least 12 months.

If you have been a member during at least 12 months and have fulfilled the work requirement, you may apply for the income-related benefit based on your previous income.

The highest rate per day is SEK 1,200 before taxes. If your average income is less than SEK 33,000, you will receive 80 percent of your average income during the first 100 out of 300 days. After that the highest rate per day is SEK 1,000. From day 101 to 200, you will receive SEK a maximum of 1,000. From day 201, the compensation level is 70 percent of your previous income. The highest daily rate is SEK 1,000.

If you're not a member – basic benefits

If you are not a member, or if you have been a member for less than twelve months, you may still be eligible for insurance payments at the basic rate. In order to receive this, you must:

  • Be unemployed and registered at Arbetsförmedlingen.
  • Have fulfilled the work requirement, in other words have worked a minimum of 60 hours per month for 6 months during a period of 12 months.

The basic benefit is not based on your salary, but on the average total of working hours per week. The maximum amount that you can receive per day is SEK 510. If you have been working full time before your unemployment, you will receive SEK 510. If your average amount of working hours are 20 hours per week (50 %), then the daily compensation would be half of that, SEK 255.

The basic amount is paid at the earliest from the day that you turn 20. The highest amount of benefit you can receive per day is SEK 510 or about SEK 11,000 per month before taxes.

State-financed payments

The benefit is subject to tax and qualifies for pension. Unemployment benefits are 100 percent funded by the state, through money collected by fund membership fees and partly through payroll taxes (national insurance contributions).

The Unemployment Insurance Act and the Unemployment Funds Act cover laws governing unemployment insurance conditions and operations. It is the responsability of The Swedish Unemployment Insurance Board (IAF) to ensure that insurance funds adhere to legislation.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call us on 08-412 33 00.

Forms in English