Steps to Work
Steps to Work (Steg till arbete) is for you if you have a disability or illness that impacts your ability to work or study. You will have the chance to try professions and workplaces in order to find a suitable job for your abilities.
What is Steps to Work?
In Steps to Work, you will receive support from one of our suppliers. At the supplier’s premises, you can try what works for you in various work situations. You, an occupational consultant and an occupational therapist will determine together what support you need.
During much of the time, you can try working at real workplaces. The goal is to find a job or begin to study.
Steps to Work
Learn more about the support and the terms that apply.
Who is eligible for Steps to Work?
Steps to Work is for you if you have a disability or illness that impacts your ability to work or study. You must be registered with the Public Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen) to participate. You must be on-site and it is important that you can be active.
Four parts of Steps to Work
Steps to Work has four parts, but you will not necessarily need all of them. You might skip part 2. After seven weeks, it is possible to start trying to work.
Part 1. Needs during the service, 3 weeks.
You and one of our suppliers determine what support you need while you have Steps to Work.
Part 2. Resources and need for support, 5 weeks.
You will try out what works for you in various work situations. This is done at the supplier’s premises. The goal is to have a better understanding of what you are good at and what you need help with. Together with an occupational consultant and an occupational therapist, you will determine what support you need.
Part 3. Strengthen and develop, 6 months.
You have the opportunity to grow by trying one or more real workplaces. The goal is to find a profession that suits you and to be ready to apply for a job.
Part 4. Find work, 6 months.
You will find a workplace or training programme that suits you. The supplier will help you, if needed. You get to try working at a real workplace in need of an employee. The goal is to find a job or begin to study.
How it works
1. We assess whether Steps to Work is relevant for you
The Public Employment Service decides whether Steps to Work is the right form of support for you. To participate, you must be registered with the Public Employment Service.
2. One of our suppliers contacts you
The supplier contacts you for an initial meeting. You will have a meeting with the supplier to learn more about Steps to Work. Together, you will develop a plan for the fastest route to a job or to begin studying.
You will be assigned the supplier located closest to where you live.
3. During Steps to Work
Steps to Work can last up to 13 months. If you cannot work full time due to illness or disability, you may participate part time.
You can combine Steps to Work with Swedish for Immigrants (SFI) studies. For some activities, you can access support in another language.
You will have regular conversations with the supplier about your progress and what you think of the activities. The supplier reports to the Public Employment Service on how you are progressing and then we make a decision on your next step.
Compensation and conditions
When you take part in steps to work, you participate in a labour market programme and can apply to the Swedish Social Insurance Agency for benefits. You can find a link below to more information about how to apply for benefits and what applies when you take part in one of our programmes.
When participating in a programme
If you become ill or need to look after a sick child
If you become ill or need to be at home to look after a sick child, you need to notify both Arbetsförmedlingen and your supervisor at the supplier’s organisation. You need to do this to get your unemployment insurance or other benefits. Your supervisor at the supplier’s organisation will inform you about how to notify them of your absence.
You can find a link below to more information about how to notify Arbetsförmedlingen of your absence.
Report absence to look after a child (parental leave)
Report activities
You have to submit an activity report to Arbetsförmedlingen every month. This is important in order for you to be given the right support on your path to work or education, and so that you will get your benefits from the Social Insurance Agency. You will find more information about how to report activities in the link below.