Get to know the unemployment rules as an upcoming graduate

It can be confusing to figure out when to do what when you have your diploma in hand and everyday life kicks in. Some details are more important than others, and if you want to secure your right to unemployment benefits, there are a few deadlines that are good to keep in mind.

There are two actors who will be important to you when you transition from student to newly graduated and unemployed.

Jobcenter
In order for the unemployment insurance fund (a-kasse) to approve your eligibility and pay unemployment benefits, you must register as unemployed on the first day you are unemployed after completing your education. You do this on jobnet.dk, which is the jobcenter’s website. On jobnet.dk, you must also fill out a CV no later than 2 weeks after you have registered as unemployed. You cannot receive your first unemployment benefits until you have filled out your CV.

While the unemployment insurance fund document how many days each month you are unemployed and available for the labor market, the jobcenter’s role may be to help you further with the help of activation. When you can be sent to activation varies depending on your age.

In addition to activation, you can also gain experience and network with exciting companies by applying for a one-month unpaid internship, where you can keep your unemployment benefits during the process. The jobcenter also helps with this.

Unemployment fund
When you finish your education, you must change your membership status to new graduate with your unemployment fund. You must do this no later than 14 days after you have received your final grade. This way, you ensure your right to unemployment benefits. If you miss the deadline, you must have a full year of full-time work to be entitled to unemployment benefits.
All new graduates must meet a language requirement if you are applying for unemployment benefits for the first time.

If you complete your education with a written assignment without an oral exam, it may in some cases take several weeks before you are notified of your grade and thus have completed your education. In these cases, your unemployment fund can have you fill out a pre-approval form, which your teacher and external examiner must fill out to demonstrate that you have submitted and passed your final exam, even if your grade is not yet ready. This way, you can apply for unemployment benefits before you have received your final grade.

On the unemployment fund’s website, you must fill out an unemployment declaration after you have registered as unemployed on Jobnet. The unemployment declaration is your application for unemployment benefits.

In addition to the initial unemployment declaration, you must fill out a benefit card on the unemployment insurance fund’s website every month. The card functions as a calendar or a time system for a job.

You register how many weekdays you have been unemployed without being sick, on vacation or otherwise not being available for the labor market.

Your unemployment benefits are calculated based on your benefit card, so if you forget to fill it out, your benefits cannot be paid on time, and you risk being in an unpleasant situation when the fixed expenses are due at the beginning of the month. Therefore, also write the monthly deadline for filling out the benefit card in your calendar.

You must also fill out a job profile on the unemployment insurance fund’s website. You must do this within the first week of your unemployment. The job profile is used by the unemployment insurance fund to base your skills and profile on your skills and profile when they invite you for an initial interview and try to match you with available jobs in their job portal.

The unemployment insurance fund is also the one that gives you a reminder if you do not apply for 1-2 jobs a week and registers your job search in a job log.

The jobs you apply for can be both posted and unsolicited applications for companies you would like to work for. But they can also be meetings in your network with people who have the opportunity to hire employees.

Many people get jobs through their networks, and it is completely normal to reach out and hear about development opportunities and vacancies in many industries, so do not hesitate to invite yourself for coffee in exciting companies.

Immediately:
Register yourself as unemployed on jobnet.dk – the Jobcenter’s website.

Within one week:
Fill in your unemployment declaration with the unemployment insurance fund and also fill in your job profile here.

Within two weeks:
Fill in your CV on jobnet.dk. If you do not fill this out, you will not be approved for unemployment benefits from the unemployment insurance fund.

No later than 14 days after your last grade:
Change your status from student to recent graduate on the unemployment insurance fund’s website.
If you have not been a student member, the same 14-day deadline applies, but in that case you must instead apply for membership in the unemployment insurance fund.

Obligatory meetings

The unemployment insurance fund will book you for an introductory meeting, probably within 14 days of you registering as unemployed. The unemployment insurance fund will initially handle your job search process, after which the mandatory meetings will be transferred to the job center.

After the first introductory meeting with the unemployment insurance fund, it is your responsibility to book the meetings. You will be informed by the unemployment insurance fund or job center when it is time to book a meeting. Therefore, keep an eye on the messages you receive from both the unemployment insurance fund and the job center. It is not certain that you will receive the messages on your own email or phone, so make it a habit to check with both the unemployment insurance fund and the job center – you will receive a login for both platforms upon registering.

Update your job log once a week

You must register your job search on the job center or unemployment insurance fund website once a week. This way, you show that you are actively looking for a job and are entitled to unemployment benefits. You should apply for 1-2 jobs per week, so that you have applied for at least 6 jobs when you look back 4 weeks.

Fill in your benefit card every month

In order for the unemployment insurance fund to pay out your unemployment benefits, you must fill in a benefit card every month that shows which days you are entitled to unemployment benefits for during the period. If you miss the deadline, your unemployment benefits cannot be paid on time.

Keep an eye on your unemployment benefit balance
At your unemployment insurance fund, you can find a unemployment benefit counter that shows how much you have used and what you have left of your current unemployment benefit period.

If you do not resign or have been dismissed from your student job before you finish and apply for unemployment benefits, you can – and should – keep your student job when you register as unemployed. You can receive supplementary unemployment benefits during the period you have a student job.

To receive unemployment benefits – including supplementary unemployment benefits – you must be available for the labor market. This means that you must be able to resign from your student job immediately.

If you continue in your student job after graduation, your employer must sign a release form documenting that you do not have to meet a possible notice period.

Please note that there may be consequences in the form of quarantine from the unemployment insurance fund and unemployment benefit payments if you resign yourself during your unemployment period.

IDA ensures good working conditions and the right salary in student jobs and full-time jobs. We specialise in the STEM job market and can help you target your application materials, spar with you on career opportunities and find the right offer that ensures you a good transition to the job.

IDA does not secure you rights for unemployment benefits if you are unemployed for a period after graduation.
However, we have a collaboration with Akademikernes A-kasse, which you can join. Membership is free for 5 years while you are a student. This way, you are guaranteed unemployment benefits from day 1 after completing your education, if you do not have a job in hand.

Remember, if you have received the student grant – SU – it will be paid in advance. But unemployment benefits are paid in arrears, so it is a good idea to put some money aside for your first month as unemployed, if it is possible.