Welcome to Unionens a-kassa - your unemployment insurance fund!
Losing your employment is always stressful, but it is easier if you have an unemployment insurance. In Sweden unemployment insurance is called arbetslöshetskassa, or simply a-kassa.
Membership
If you have a knowledge-based job, you can become a member. We have members in many different professional groups. Entrepreneurs are also welcome.
All you have to do to become a member is fill out an application for membership. If we receive your application before midnight on the last day of the month, you can become a member from the first day of the same month.
You cannot become a member of an unemployment insurance fund once you turn 67, and if you are a member the membership will automatically end the month before you turn 67.
It's easy to become a member
Use our on-line application to become a member. You need an e-identification to be able to send your application here.
If you don´t have an e-identification, you can call us and we will help you.
Payment of membership fee
Our fee is SEK 160 per month. You can pay the fee with direct debit, e-invoice or regular invoice.
Autogiro (direct debit)
With autogiro, you do not need to keep track of due dates or fill in long OCR numbers. The money is automatically deducted from your bank account and is credited to our membership account on the correct day. Autogiro is free of charge.
To sign up for autogiro, log into your internet bank and register us as a payment recipient. Until the autogiro is registred you need to pay with the invoices that we send to you.
E-faktura (e-invoice)
Log into your internet bank and register that you want to receive e-invoices from us. Until you have signed up you need to pay with the invoices that we send to you.
Invoice
We will send an invoice to your post address every month.
If you do not pay the fee your membership will end
If you do not pay the fee your membership ends after three months. For example, if you do not pay the fee for January, February and March, your membership ends from April 1.
However, the membership fee for the three months must always be paid, even if the membership is terminated.
Five steps to apply for compensation
Get started with your compensation by following our five simple steps. The sooner we receive all the information, the sooner you’ll get your decision and your money.
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Register with Arbetsförmedlingen
Make sure to register with Arbetsförmedlingen on your first day of unemployment. The registration is done online.
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Log in and apply for compensation
Log in to Mina sidor here on our website and submit your application. Once you provide your information you will recieve a personalized to-do list showing what you need to do and what information to provide to comlete your application.
We will then rewiev your application, and if any information is missing we will contact you.
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Register your bank account
Register your bank account to have your compensation deposited directly into the account of your choice. You register your account with Swedbank´s account register.
If you do not register an account you will recieve your compensation through a payment notice.
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Submit your monthly application
Submit your monthly application as soon as possible after the month has passed. However, it is best toave all the income details for the month before submitting it.
The earliest you can recieve your first payment is on the Thursday of the week following your compensation decision. Compensation is then paid once a month, usually on a Thursday at the end of the month.
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Submit your activity report to Arbetsförmedlingen
You need to submit an activity report to Arbetsförmedlingen by the 14th of each month. This is done through their website “Mina sidor”. Submitting the report on time and actively applying for a sufficient number of jobs are requirements for recieving compensation.
In addition to being registered with the Swedish Public Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen) there are a few things that you are required to do while seeking compensation from a-kassan. You are required to:
- actively be looking for work in Sweden.
- be prepared to accept suitable work when offered.
- submit a monthly activity report to the Arbetsförmedlingen.
Rules and regulations
It is the Parliament (Riksdag) that decides on the rules and all unemployment funds follow the same rules.
The insurance applies to everyone who works in Sweden, but to receive compensation from us, you need to meet certain conditions.
Requirements for compensation
To qualify for unemployment benefits in Sweden, you must live in the country, actively look for work here, and hold a valid general work permit. You also need to meet both the basic conditions and the income requirement.
To be entitled to unemployment insurance you need to:
- be partially or completely unemployed,
- be prepared to accept suitable work when so offered,
- be registered at the public employment service (Arbetsförmedlingen) and actively seek suitable work.
In addition, you need to cooperate with Arbetsförmedlingen in the drafting of an individual plan of action for employment.
You can receive compensation at the earliest from your 20th birthday.
How to qualify for compensation
To qualify for compensation you need to meet an income requirement in one of two ways - under the main rule or under the alternative rule.
The main rule
To qualify for benefits under the main rule, you need to have earned the following within your qualification period:
- At least SEK 120 000 in total.
- At least SEK 11 000 per month for at least four months.
The alternative rule
To qualify for benefits under the alternative rule, you need to have earned at least SEK 11 000 per month for at least 4 consecutive months within your qualification period.
What counts toward the income requirement?
- Gross income for which your employer has paid employer contributions.
- Income from your own business for which you have paid employer contributions.
- Benefits from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan), such as parental and sickness benefits, in certain cases.
Only income from work counts toward the SEK 11 000 minimum in those months.
How much compensation you can get
The amount depends on how long you have been a member of an unemployment insurance fund. The longer your membership during the qualification period, the higher your potential compensation. You also need to remain a member while receiving benefits. The compensation levels are:
Length of membership Level of compensation
Member for 12 months or longer 80 percent of previous income
Member for 6–11 months 60 percent of previous income
Member for 0–5 months 50 percent of previous income
Fixed compensation level under the alternative rule
When you qualify for compensation under the alternative rule the level of compensation is always 50 percent.
Time with compensation
Your income during the qualification period decides how long you can receive benefits. If you are unemployed for a full month, you can get compensation for up to 22 days that month.
Time with compensation under the main rule
Compensation period Income during qualification period
300 days 11–12 months with SEK 11 000 or more
200 days 8–10 months with SEK 11 000 or more
100 days 4–7 months with SEK 11 000 or more
Compensation period under the alternative rule
You will receive 66 compensation days, regardless of your previous income.
Waiting period
A compensation period always starts with two waiting days.
At the end of your compensation period
As you approach the end of your compensation period, we will review your case to see if you qualify for a new one. To start a new period, you will need to meet the income requirement again.