New rules regarding unemployment benefits. See below how the new rules affects you.

These rules apply to you if you graduated before May 1st and are receiving unemployment benefits.

The new rules only apply if you are a non-provider. If you are a provider, there are no changes to your unemployment rate.

The unemployment rate is reduced when you have had 481 hours of unemployment (3 months of unemployment). The hours you have been unemployed before 1 May 2023 count towards the 481 total hours of unemployment, but the unemployment benefit rate can at the earliest be reduced from 1 May 2023.

Example 1:
You became unemployed on 1 February and have some work or other etc, which means you have not had your full unemployment benefits. If you are unemployed on 1 May and have had 2 months of unemployment benefits - 320 hours. If you are paid unemployment benefit for the whole month of May, you will reach the 481 hours of unemployment on 1 June, and it will be from that date that your rate will be reduced.

Example 2:
You have been fully unemployed since 1 January. With a payment for the month of March, you have had unemployment benefits for 481 hours (January, February, and March). But since the rate can be reduced effectively from 1 May at the earliest, you will keep your current rate until 1 May.
The reduction of the rate after 481 hours of unemployment takes place regardless of what time of the month you reach the 481 hours of unemployment.

At jobnet.dk you can see a status of how many hours of unemployment benefits you have had.

 

If you are under 30 years old, and a non-provider
The unemployment rate will be reduced to DKK 9,700 per month. As of today, the rate is DKK 14,106 per month. If you turn 30 the rate increases to DKK 12,253 per month. Should you become a provider the rate increases to DKK 16,177 per month. All rates mentioned are before tax.

If you are over 30 years old, and a non-provider
The unemployment rate will be reduced to DKK 12,254 per month. As of today, the rate is DKK 14,106 per month. Should you become a provider the rate increases to DKK 16,177 per month. All rates mentioned are before tax.

How long you can get unemployment benefit
You are still entitled to unemployment benefit for 2 years (3,848 hours) within a period of 3 years.

Danish Language requirement
You must not apply to that new rule. The new rule applies for those that graduates May 1st or later.

• The unemployment rate is reduced when you have had 481 hours of unemployment (3 months of unemployment). Only apply to non-providers. If you are a provider, your rate will not be reduced.
• The reduction of the rate after 481 hours of unemployment takes place regardless of what time of the month you reach the 481 hours of unemployment.
• You may receive unemployment benefits for 1 year (1.924 hours)
• You must fulfil a Danish language requirement

The unemployment rates

If you are a non-provider and under the age of 30
The first 481 hours of unemployment, your unemployment rate will be DKK 14,106 per month. When you have been unemployed for 481 hours, your rate will be reduced to DKK 9,700 per month.

If you are a non-provider and over 30 years old
The first 481 hours of unemployment, your unemployment rate will be DKK 14,106 per month. When you have been unemployed for 481 hours, your rate will be reduced to DKK 12,253 per month.

If you are a provider – no matter what age
Your unemployment rate is DKK 16,177 per month.

If, as a graduate, you are to receive unemployment benefits on May 1st, 2023, or later you must meet a language requirement.
You meet the language requirement if you have completed a Danish-language education (at least the 6th grade of primary school) or passed the Danish 2 test.

Affiliation requirements
If you cannot meet the language requirement you may fulfil an affiliation requirement instead. The affiliation requirement can be met with wage hours reported to the Income Register before you become unemployed and receive unemployment benefits.

At least 600 wage hours must be reported to the Income Register for 12 months within 24 months.
You do not necessarily have to have carried out the work for 12 consecutive months and there is no requirement for membership of the unemployment fund for the period work hours are reported.

Work with an independent business
Income from self-employment cannot be included in the calculation of the 600 wage hours to fulfil the affiliation requirement.

Work abroad
You may well include wage hours earned in another EEA country, Switzerland or Great Britain to meet the affiliation requirement. There is, however, a requirement that the last 150 paid hours must have been carried out in Denmark.

The possibility of a higher unemployment rate for the first 3 months (also called employment supplement)

IThese rules applies to employees and self imployed
If you are approved of unemployment benefit on or after 1 May 2023, you have the option of getting a higher unemployment benefit rate for the first 481 hours (3 months) you are unemployed.

The maximum unemployment rate (currently DKK 19,728) is increased to DKK 23,449 for the first 3 months you are unemployed.

However, your unemployment rate can be a maximum of 90 percent of your previous income.

To be entitled to the higher unemployment rate, you must meet these conditions. You must have had:

• 2 years of work within the last 3 years. This means that you must have worked 3,848 hours or earned DKK 508,656 within the past 3 years and
• 4 years of uninterrupted membership of an unemployment fund and
• A wage income that gives the right to more than the maximum unemployment rate of DKK 19,728 per month