Have you secured your right to unemployment benefits?

A membership to an unemployment insurance fund – a-kasse – guarantees you the right to receive unemployment benefits if you become unemployed for a period after finishing your studies.

In IDA we work together with Akademikernes A-kasse, Denmark’s largest and cheapest a-kasse for academics.

You do not automatically become a member of Akademikernes A-kasse when you join IDA, but it is free of charge to be a member if you are a student and under 30 years of age.

As a free student member of Akademikernes A-kasse, you earn the right to unemployment benefits from your first day as a new graduate if you are without a job. All you need to do is remember to join at least one year before finishing your studies. That is why we recommend joining sooner rather than later so you do not forget about it when you are busy finishing your studies.

As a student member of the a-kasse, you earn the right to receive unemployment benefits if you do not have a job after your last exam. That way you are guaranteed an income as a new graduate, and will receive help to move foreward into your career.

If you have been a member of the a-kasse for at least 1 year before graduation, you have the right to unemployment benefits from your first day after graduation if you do not have a job.

Furthermore, the a-kasse helps you keep track of how to get your unemployment benefits as a new graduate. In other words, it is a good idea to join the a-kasse early on so you will not forget when you become absorbed in your studies.

If you join when you have less than 1 year left of your studies, you will not get the right to unemployment benefits before the waiting period of one month is over. In other words, you will miss out on one month’s unemployment benefits as a new graduate by not becoming a student member of the a-kasse in due time.

If you have less than 2 months left of your studies and you have not yet joined an a-kasse, you no longer qualify for a student membership through IDA. In this case you must join directly through Akademikernes A-kasse, who will advise you.

IDA does not have an a-kasse, but is associated with Akademikernes A-kasse. We are able to recommend them for several reasons:

Akademikernes A-kasse is Denmark’s largest unemployment insurance fund for academics and has the lowest rate of unemployment among recent graduates for all unemployment insurance funds in the country.

AKA specializes in ensuring that you find employment. Once you have graduated, Akademikernes A-kasse is also the cheapest a-kasse for academics.

You do not automatically become a member of Akademikernes A-kasse when you join IDA. You need to actively opt in to Akademikernes A-kasse when joining IDA as a student member, or after joining under your profile details. IDA will take care of the rest.

As a student, you can get a free membership to Akademikernes A-kasse for 5 years if you are under 30. After that you must pay for your membership. We recommend joining as early as possible when you are a student, and no later than 1 year before the last exam. That way you will enjoy all the benefits – free of charge.

Once you turn 30, you are legally required to pay for your membership to an a-kasse, even if you are a student. Students over the age of 30 may, however, qualify for part-time membership. As a part-time member, you pay a lower fee. In IDA we recommend always seeking advice with Akademikernes A-kasse in this situation.

When you have graduated, you pay a full membership fee. Akademikernes A-kasse is the cheapest a-kasse for academics. Visit Akademikernes A-kasse to view the membership fees for full time and part-time members (NB: in Danish).

An a-kasse takes care of the financial part of your unemployment. It is the a-kasse that pays unemployment benefits to unemployed persons. Where the a-kasse is the link between you and the authorities while you are on unemployment benefits, IDA, as your trade union, is the link between you and your future employer.

In IDA we offer career counselling, courses, events, professional networks, and other useful services that can help you while you are still a student, when you are looking for a job, and later in your career. Our legal advisors can read through your contract and make sure you receive proper conditions and a good salary in your employment. We are also your trade union and are ready to assist you if concerns arise or you have experiences from your student job or career later on you need to discuss.

If you have further questions about the a-kasse, you can contact our partner Akademikernes A-kasse. Reach Akademikernes A-kasse by phone +45 33 95 03 95, or send an email on kontakt@aka.dk.