Warning or loss of unemployment benefit from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency

You may be given a warning if, for example, you do not actively look for a job or omit to report on your job search activities. If this happens repeatedly, you may lose your unemployment benefit from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency for one or more days.

What should you do if you receive a warning or a decision to suspend your benefits?

You will first receive a communication letter from us. In some cases this letter also contains a preliminary decision. Before we make a final decision, you have the opportunity to give us your views and comments. You can use the response form on the web, call us, or submit the form ‘Svar på kommunicering inför beslut om sanktion eller varning’ (‘Response to a communication regarding an impending penalty or warning decision’), which you will receive with the letter.

Submit your comments via the response form

If you are not satisfied with the final decision, you can request that we examine it again. If you wish to do so, fill in the form entitled ‘Begäran om omprövning’ (‘Request for a review’) and send it to us.

Request a review of a decision

If you neglect your job-seeking obligations

If you do not do what we have agreed on, you are neglecting your job-seeking obligations. 

Consequently, you may receive a warning or lose your right to unemployment benefit from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency

If you

  • do not take part in drawing up a plan together with us
  • do not submit your activity report to us in time
  • do not fulfil agreements to visit or contact us
  • do not take part in a measure or activity
  • do not apply for jobs or education as instructed
  • do not actively look for work.

This is what happens if you neglect your job-seeking obligations

  • First time: you receive a warning.
  • Second time: 1 day without benefit.
  • Third time: 5 days without benefit.
  • Fourth time: 10 days without benefit.
  • Fifth and subsequent times: 45 days without benefit. If your payment is based on unemployment benefit, it is then reduced to 223 kronor per day after the 45-day period.

If you prolong your period of unemployment

If you decline a job, a work experience placement or other programme or measure, you are prolonging your period of unemployment.

Consequently, you may receive a warning or lose your right to unemployment benefit from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency

If you

  • decline a suitable job that you are offered
  • decline education that you have been admitted to and that we have instructed you to apply for
  • willingly prevent employment from being realised
  • decline a measure or activity.

This is what happens if you prolong your period of unemployment

  • First time: 5 days without benefit.
  • Second time: 10 days without benefit.
  • Third time: 45 days without benefit.
  • Fourth and subsequent times: 45 days without benefit. If your payment is based on unemployment benefit, it is reduced to 223 kronor per day after the 45-day period.

If you cause your unemployment

If you resign from a job, you cause your unemployment yourself.

Consequently, you may receive a warning or lose your right to unemployment benefit from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency

If you

  • resign from a job without a valid reason
  • behave in a way that causes you to be dismissed.

This is what happens if you cause your unemployment yourself

  • First and second time: 45 days without benefit.
  • Third and each subsequent time: 45 days without benefit. If your payment is based on unemployment benefit, it is reduced to 223 kronor per day after the 45-day period.

If you knowingly provide false information

Försäkringskassan can decide to suspend your benefit for a long period. This applies if you knowingly or through gross carelessness provided false or misleading information to Försäkringskassan and thereby receive more benefit than you are entitled to.