Unemployed – what happens now?
We will guide you through the process of signing up as a jobseeker, applying for compensation from the unemployment insurance fund (a-kassa), and starting your job search.
Register on your first day of unemployment
It is important that you register via our digital service on your first day of unemployment. The service is open every day from 7:00 am to 12:00 am. You can start entering information before you have become unemployed. Then wait until your first day of unemployment to submit the information.
- The unemployment insurance fund will assess your right to compensation from the day you register and are unemployed.
- If you are seeking financial assistance (subsistence allowance – försörjningsstöd) from the municipality, you must be registered with the Public Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen).
- To keep your sickness benefit qualifying income (sjukpenninggrundande inkomst, SGI) from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan), you must register on your first day of unemployment.
If you receive notice of redundancies you do not need to register.
How to register
The video shows what to do when it’s time to register as a jobseeker at Arbetsförmedlingen (subtitles in English).
Apply for compensation from the unemployment insurance fund
When you have registered, you can apply for compensation from the unemployment insurance fund. You must fulfil certain conditions to be entitled to compensation.
- Log in to your unemployment insurance fund’s website and apply for compensation.
- If you are not a member of an unemployment insurance fund, you can apply for membership on their website.
- If do not want to be a member of an unemployment insurance fund, you can apply for compensation from Alfa-kassan.
Important to know when you have compensation
While applying for or receiving compensation from the unemployment insurance fund, you must follow the terms and conditions so that you are not at risk of having your compensation suspended for one or more days.
Conditions when you have compensation from the unemployment insurance fund
Prepare for the planning meeting
When you register, you will simultaneously book a time for your first meeting with an employment officer. If you have work within 3 months, you do not need a planning meeting. At the meeting, we will create an action plan (handlingsplan) together for your job search.
Get started on your job search
- Find the right job
- Tips for your job search
- Make a smart career choice and study programme
- Make use of our programmes and support
Report activities – every month
Each month, you must report to us what activities you have completed to get closer to finding a job. Submit the report some time between the 1st and 14th of every month.
Report changes
Let us know if anything changes that affects your job search. For example, you may have found a job, be going on parental leave, or starting to study, and therefore no longer need to be registered. You can easily deregister via My Pages by clicking on Deregister.
Please also inform us if you change your telephone number or e-mail address. You can do this on My Pages, by telephone, or at a service office.
We obtain your current address from the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket), so you do not need to inform us if you move.
Keep track of your job search on My pages (Mina sidor)
When logged in to My pages, you will find your action plan, scheduled meetings and case status. You can add more work experience, download an enrolment certificate and submit your activity report every month. You can also find other helpful services here for your job search.