Question

Hello,

I am a non-EU citizen and I moved to Denmark in July 2018 with a researcher work permit. At the time, the residence requirement would have not allowed me to count my previous years of residence and employment in Switzerland, so I did not join an A-kasse. But now the rules have changed. Whoop.

But what is the situation now for non-EU citizens with the new rules? My contract (and work permit) runs until mid-2021, by then I will have resided in Denmark for the last 3 years, and in an EU/EEA/EFTA country for the last 9.5. Under the new rules, would I have access to dagpenge? (provided that I have been a member for at least 12 months, of course).

Thanks for your help in navigating this often confusing world! ;)

Answer 1

1

Hi,

as an non-EU you have never been able to count previous stays in Switzerland (or EU/EEA). In relation to the residence requirement, which will be removed from 1st February 2020, it was only EU-citizens who could count stays in other EU/EEA countries.

After the removal of the residence requirement from 1st February 2020, it is no longer relevant how many years you have stayed in Denmark (or other EU/EEA-countries).

So from 1st February 2020, you must meet the general requirements for being eligible for dagpenge.

This includes 1 year membership of an A-kasse and that you have earned at least DKK 238.512 during the last 3 years (in total). Remember that only income earned during periods with A-kasse membership can be counted in the income-requirement.

Next, it is important for an non-EU citizen that you - if you should be unemployed and apply for dagpenge - can take ANY job with one days notice, meaning you must be available for the labor-market.

We do not guide about residence and work-permit, but joining an A-kasse as an non-EU citizen is only relevant, if you are allowed to stay and work in Denmark, if you lose your current job.

Best regards,

Anders Weber, www.a-kasser.dk