Studies and benefits

Normally, you cannot combine studies and benefits from an unemployment fund. You cannot receive benefits during summer holidays or other holiday breaks. However, there are three exceptions where you can study while receiving benefits.

1. If you attend an orientation course or similar activity

You can receive benefits for 15 benefits days during a benefit period if you participate in an orientation course or activities that help you move from one job to another. The days can be used at one time or spread out over the whole period.

2. If you are studying part-time

You can study part-time and receive benefits for 20 weeks during a benefit period. However, you must not have quit your previous job to start studying.

You can receive benefits if your studies

  • do not prevent you from seeking and taking a full-time job.
  • have a maximum study rate of 50 percent.
  • are not financed or have been financed by any form of student support. If you have been studying and working at the same time for a period of at least 15 weeks prior to unemployment, student financial aid is not a hinder to receiving benefits.

3. If you started full-time studies before becoming unemployed

You can receive 20 weeks of benefit during a benefit period if you have been studying and working full-time for at least 15 weeks before becoming unemployed and continuing to study. However, you must not have quit your previous job to start studying.

You can receive compensation if your studies

  • do not prevent you from seeking and taking up full-time work
  • are not financed or have been financed by any form of student finance.

If you are going to start studying

If you already receive benefits from us but plan to study at the same time, you must submit the form Ansökan om studier (Application for Studies) via Mina sidor. Also, upload your admission letter. This is to avoid the risk of having to repay all or part of your benefit.

Unemployed after completing your studies

If you have studied and want to apply for benefits, your studies must have been completed or completely interrupted. Studies cannot be included in a work condition, but we can skip them if you have studied full-time. The periods we skip are called excluded time and can be a maximum of 5 years. This allows us to check whether you meet a work condition before your studies.

Full-time studies can count as excluded time if you either

  • finished them or interrupted them when you were older than 25
  • finished them or interrupted them when you were younger than 25 but have worked full-time for at least 5 consecutive months before the studies.




Updated: 2023-09-25


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