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Swedish unemployment insurance legislation differs from that of other countries in certain respects.
Swedish unemployment insurance consists of a universal basic insurance and a voluntary loss of income insurance. Unemployment benefit under basic insurance is provided to anyone who meets the basic conditions and a ‘work condition’, provided they are aged over twenty.
In order to obtain unemployment benefit under the loss of income insurance it is necessary to have been a member of an Unemployment Insurance Fund for at least one year and to have fulfilled the work condition during that time. There is no lower age limit for the voluntary loss of income insurance.
There are a total of 36 Unemployment Insurance Funds. The Unemployment Insurance Funds are independent organisations, but most of them work with union organisations or employer organisations. One of the funds, the ‘Alfa’ fund, is an independent Unemployment Insurance Fund commissioned by the government to pay basic insurance, even to those who are not members of an Unemployment Insurance Fund.
To be allowed to join an Unemployment Insurance Fund, you must have been made unemployed after having had a job in Sweden.
Applications must be submitted in writing. Once you are a member of an Unemployment Insurance Fund, you are required to pay a membership fee. The Unemployment Insurance Funds decide on entitlement to unemployment benefit.
In order to obtain unemployment benefit under the loss of income insurance it is necessary to have been a member of an Unemployment Insurance Fund for at least one year and to have fulfilled the work condition during that time. Any time during which you were insured against unemployment in other EU/EEA countries may be credited as required. NB: In 2009 special rules apply for joining and in respect of terms of membership.
Anyone granted unemployment benefit receives a maximum basic sum of SEK 320, five days per week, irrespective of previous income. Anyone entitled to loss of income benefit receives 80 per cent of previous income subject to a maximum of SEK 680. The unemployment benefits are taxable.
Basic conditions
In order to obtain unemployment benefits, the applicant must:
- be entirely or partly unemployed
- be fit for work and available for work at least three hours per day and at least 17 hours per week
- be prepared to accept an offer of suitable work
- be registered as a job seeker at the Public Employment Services (Arbetsförmedlingen)
- cooperate in drawing up an individual back-to-work plan in consultation with the Public Employment Services
- be actively seeking suitable work but unable to find such work.
Work condition
Anyone who, in the 12 months immediately preceding unemployment, has worked for at least six months and at least 80 hours in every calendar month, or who has worked for at least 480 hours during six consecutive calendar months and at least 50 hours in every single one of those months, meets the work condition. Time worked in other Member States can also be credited.
Period of benefit
Anyone who satisfies the conditions for receiving unemployment benefit may draw benefit for 300 benefit days. Anyone who is a parent of children under the age of 18 may receive benefit at a level of 70% of previous income up to and including day 450 of the benefit period. Unemployment benefit is payable only after the applicant has been unemployed for five days (waiting period). The Unemployment Insurance Fund may, in certain cases, decide to extend the period of benefit by an additional 300 benefit days.
If you are an unemployed business owner, special rules apply regarding your unemployment benefit and the calculation of the daily amount you are paid.
Text last edited on: 11/2009
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