Too meet the economic impact that the Corona pandemic is having on individuals, companies, and society, the Swedish Government and their supporting parties have agreed to implement temporary changes to the Swedish unemployment benefit system. 

If you lose your job, you have to look for work in those industries that are currently hiring. You also need to be registered at the arbetsförmedling and meet the work requirement. 

The work requirement "arbetsvillkor"

The main rule; You will need to have worked for at least 6 out of the past 12 months, for at least 60 hours per month. 

The alternative rule: You will need to have worked 420 hours in total during 6 consecutive months, but no less than 40 hours per individual month, to qualify. 

The membership requirement "medlemsvillkor"

Those who meet the membership requirement are able to qualify for income related unemployment benefit. Each month of membership during March-December 2020 will count as 4 months. Months before March 2020 count as 1. Months from Janyary 2021 count as 1.

Examples of when the shortened membership requirement will be met

Q: I joined November 2020.
A: You will meet the membership requirement 1st of May 2021.

Q: I joined December 2020.
A: You will meet the membership requirement 1st of September 2021.

Q: I joined January 2020.
A: You will meet the membership requirement 1st of January 2022.

The maximum benefit "inkomstbaserad ersättning"

The highest benefit level is 80% of your income up to SEK 33 000 per month. The maximum unemployment benefit per day (for the first 100 days of unemployment) is SEK 1200 per day, before tax. This means that that those who qualify for income related unemployment benefit will be able to receive up to SEK 26 400 per month.

From day 101 the maximum benefit level is SEK 1000 per day before taxes.

The basic benefit "grundersättning"

Those who meet the work requirement, but not the membership requirement, will be able to receive a maximum of SEK 510 per day, SEK 11 220 per month, before tax. The lowest basic benefit per day has been fixed at SEK 225 before tax.
The level of basic benefit is based on your average hours worked, not your average salary. This increase will also apply to those who are already receiving the basic benefit.

The self-employed can pause their business

Those who are self-employed can pause their business by temporarily ceasing operations to receive unemployment benefit. The business does not need to be closed permanently, and the pause does not need to be registered with neither Skatteverket nor Bolagsverket. No one can work in the business while it is paused. This change are due to expire after December 2021.

Short-Time Work Allowance "korttidsstöd"

The Short-Time Work Allowance scheme has been extended up to and including June 2021. Known as korttidsarbete or korttidspermittering in Swedish, the Short-Time Work Allowance provides financial support for personnel costs.

Employees are ineligible for unemployment benefit for any work covered by the Short-Time Work Allowance scheme. However, it is possible to qualify if you are also unemployed from other work.

The Short-Time Work Allowance will not negatively affect your unemployment benefits. If you lose your job after being covered by the Short-Time Work Allowance scheme, your unemployment benefits will normally be based on your pre-scheme salary. We will only count your Short-Time Work Allowance salary if it is better for you.