Conditions for your compensation in programmes

When you participate in a programme and receive activity support, development allowance or introduction benefit, it is important that you continue looking for work and submitting an activity report to us each month. Otherwise, you may be issued with a warning. If this happens several times, you may be left without compensation for one or more days. You can read about all the conditions that apply your compensation here.

What do I need to do?

To not risk losing your compensation, you need to keep looking for work and adhere to the plans and agreements you have made with us. If you receive support from any of our suppliers, you also need to adhere to the plan and agreements you made with your supervisor there.

This means that you need to

  • actively seek a suitable job (unless stated otherwise in your action plan), for example job listings and jobs that the Public Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen) or your case worker have suggested to you, or submit letters of interest or your CV to employers
  • apply for the jobs or study programmes we have encouraged you to apply for
  • submit your activity report to us between the first and the fourteenth of each month, filling in all the jobs you have applied for and the other activities you have completed
  • develop an action plan together with us that sets out how you are going to find a job
  • participate in activities included in your programme
  • participate in meetings or contact us and our suppliers at scheduled times and answer the phone when we have agreed to call you.

So as not to prolong your unemployment and risk being left without compensation, you also need to accept

  • jobs you are offered
  • study programmes to which you have been admitted and that we have encouraged you to apply for
  • job interviews and do your best in order to receive a job offer
  • activities that we or our suppliers offer within your programme.

You need to inform us if you get ill or are looking after a sick child and cannot participate in your programme. If you need time off you must first get this approved by us.

If you get sick

If you are looking after a sick child

Spending time abroad

Time spent abroad during a programme period that Arbetsförmedlingen has not approved may lead to losing your place on the programme. You can also lose your benefit and the activities included in the programme.

What happens if I do not do what I am supposed to?

Arbetsförmedlingen will check that you fulfil the conditions for compensation in a programme and decide on a warning or that you will not receive compensation for one or more days if you neglect your job-seeking or prolong your unemployment.

If you do not comply with the conditions and are suspended from receiving benefit this may also mean that you are not entitled to any income qualifying for sickness benefit (SGI). Your SGI is the basis for how much money you can receive if you are on parental leave, for example. Enquire with the Swedish Social Insurance Agency if you have any questions about this.

If we at Arbetsförmedlingen start an investigation, we will send you a letter so that you are given the opportunity to provide supplementary information to us before we make a final decision.

Submit supplementary information

  • First time: you are issued a warning.
  • Second time: One day without compensation.
  • Third time: Five days without compensation.
  • Fourth time: Ten days without compensation.
  • Fifth and every subsequent time: 45 days without compensation. If your compensation is based on unemployment benefit, this is reduced to SEK 223 per day after the 45 days.

  • First time: Five days without compensation.
  • Second time: Ten days without compensation.
  • Third time: 45 days without compensation.
  • Fourth and every subsequent time: 45 days without compensation. If your compensation is based on unemployment benefit, this is reduced to SEK 223 per day after the 45 days.

What can I do if I am not satisfied with the decision?

If you have received a letter containing the final decision and you are not satisfied with it, you can request that we reconsider the decision. To do so, fill in the form “Request for reconsideration of decision regarding warning or sanction” (”Begäran om omprövning av beslut om varning eller sanktion” ) and send it to us.

Request reconsideration of a decision

Frequently asked questions

Might I lose my compensation if I arrive at an activity late or leave early?

Your supervisor must always notify us if you have arrived too late or left early, regardless of the reasons for your absence. We will look at the reason and what significance your absence had on your potential to achieve the aim of the activity that day. If we make the assessment that you have acted improperly, you may be issued a warning or lose your compensation for one or more days.

I need to leave my activity for a doctor’s appointment, who do I notify?

If you need time off you must first get this approved by us. That also applies to shorter absences such as if you have an appointment with a doctor or dentist. It is only Arbetsförmedlingen that can approve time off, not your supervisor at the supplier. Also notify your supervisor so that they know that you will not be there.

What happens if I do not hand in homework to my supervisor on time?

If you do not hand in homework on time, your supervisor has to inform us about it. If we make the assessment that you have acted improperly, you may be issued a warning or lose out on compensation for one or more days.

I receive support from a supervisor at one of Arbetsförmedlingen’s suppliers, do I need to keep in contact with Arbetsförmedlingen at the same time?

Arbetsförmedlingen is responsible for the overarching plan together with you and for following up on how you are doing. We can book meetings with you during the period you are with a supplier and you need to attend these meetings.

You have to continue submitting an activity report to us each month. This is the case even if you report the jobs you have applied for to your supervisor at the supplier.

If you get ill or need to stay at home to look after sick children, it is important that you contact Arbetsförmedlingen on the first day. You also need to notify your supervisor.

If you get sick

If you are looking after a sick child

You also have to contact Arbetsförmedlingen if you get a job or start studying and thus no longer need to stay in your programme or if, for some other reason, you do not want to or are unable to continue the programme.

Who do I turn to if I have questions about my compensation in a programme?

If you have questions about the conditions and what you need to do in order to keep your compensation, you should turn to Arbetsförmedlingen.

Contact us

Have you received a letter saying that there is an ongoing investigation about your compensation and you have questions about it? Or are you wondering why you have received a decision about a warning or suspension? Contact the unit for Compensation Examination at Arbetsförmedlingen. The contact details are in the letter.

If your questions concern payments, the level of the compensation or how to fill in your application for compensation, you have to contact the Swedish Social Insurance Agency.

If you are taking part in a programme (forsakringskassan.se)

How many jobs should I apply for?

How many jobs you should apply for when participating in a programme depends on which programme you are in. Your action plan might say how many suitable jobs you should apply for in order to have a good chance of getting a job as quickly as possible, for example 6-20. The lowest number is the minimum number of suitable jobs you should apply for each month in order for us to consider you to be actively searching for work.

If there are not enough suitable jobs to apply to near the area where you live, it is important to apply in other areas as well.

In some cases, the Public Employment Service may also determine that you do not need to apply for a job while participating in the programme. If so, your action plan will say this.

If you are unsure, you can ask the Public Employment Service.

Be sure to enter every job you have applied for in your activity report (aktivitetsrapport): job listings, spontaneous applications, or jobs we have suggested or urged you to apply for. Your activity report is an important document for us to be able to assess whether you have actively been searching for suitable jobs.

What is considered a suitable job?

Suitable jobs include those in which you have experience or training/education. Other jobs where your skills would apply are also suitable. Applying for jobs in several different professions will increase your opportunities to get a job. Remember that these must be jobs that you have a realistic chance of getting. Jobs that require particular training, a certain education level, certification or authorisation that you do not have are not suitable.

If an employer wants to hire you and thinks you have the right skills, the job is suitable.

If for medical reasons you cannot apply for or accept certain types of jobs, you must certify that with a medical certificate.

What happens with my compensation if I do not apply for enough suitable jobs?

If you apply for fewer suitable jobs than the lowest number stated in your action plan, then you might receive a warning or you might not receive compensation for one or more days. Before we make the final decision about your compensation, we will contact you so that you have a chance to give us additional information.

If your action plan says you do not need to apply for jobs, then you do not need to apply for jobs.

Monitoring jobs applied for

We sometimes investigate whether you have applied for the jobs you have registered in your activity report. It is therefore important that you save documentation that can prove you have applied for these jobs.

Information about proving you have applied for jobs