A-kasse - your way to income while you are looking for a job

You only have 14 days after your last exam to join an unemployment fund if you want to join the special graduate conditions.

"The special graduate conditions" means that you may receive unemployment benefit as early as one month after you have completed your education.

There are different rules for the rights to unemployment benefit for e.g., EU citizens and non-EU citizens under the age of 30. Contact your unemployment insurance fund to get the specific rules for your situation.

If you have been a student member for at least 1 year before you finish your education, you will receive daily allowance from your graduation - you just must remember to change your membership status. With some of the unemployment funds, you must re-register as a new graduate, with others you just need to update your information.

 

The 14-day rule – a quick intro:

• If you have been a member of an unemployment insurance fund for more than 1 year: you are entitled to daily allowance as early as the day after the last exam. Contact your unemployment insurance fund and register as unemployed within 14 days after the last exam.
• If you have been a member for less than 1 year: you will receive 1 month's waiting period, during which you will not receive unemployment benefits. Contact the a-kasse within 14 days.
• If you are not a member of a unemployment fund: register as soon as possible, and within 14 days.

If you do not register within 14 days, you must accumulate 12 months of seniority before you are entitled to unemployment benefits.