Hi,
As of 1. of july 2017 there will be significant changes in the way how first time unemployed can obtain right to unemployment benefits.
Until 1. of july 2017 for being eligible for unemployment benefits you must have been member of an A-kasse for at least 1 year, and you must have worked 1.924 hours. This is described in our article https://a-kasser.dk/benefits/.
Graduates dont need to meet these two requirements. Graduates can have benefits from the first day of unemployment. But there is some other requirements that graduates must fulfill. This is described here: https://a-kasser.dk/graduates/
After 1. of july 2017 the most important change is for salaried/employees who have had a job for some time and after 1. of july 2017 get unemployed.
After the new rules you dont obtain right to benefits after you have been working some hours (1.924), but you obtain right to benefits if you have earned/have had an income of at least DKK 223,428 (in 2017) during the last 3 years (in total). You must still have been member of an A-kasse for at least 1 year.
Again Graduates dont need to meet these two requirements. Graduates also after 1. of july only need to fulfill the special requirements for graduates.
The change from 1. of july only affect first time unemployed. If you have been unemployed before and need to earn a new unemployment benefit period, then the old rule must be used, which means that you must work 1.924 hours before you can start a new 2 years period with benefits/dagpenge.
Is there any change in how long you can get benefits?
When you start to get unemployment benefits (dagpenge), you will be granted a 2 year period. This was also 2 years after the old rule.
BUT after 1. of july 2017 you have the possibilty to earn up to 1 year more with dagpenge so the total period will be 3 years.
You earn right to longere period with dagpenge everytime you have 1 hour of paid work. And the calculation is so: 1 hour of work gives you two hours extra dagpenge starting when your current two-year period is running out.
At the moment the new rules are only described in a danish article on our website: https://a-kasser.dk/dagpengeret/
We will be updating the english version after 1. of july 2017.
Best regards,
Anders, www.a-kasser.dk