Question

Hi,

I work part-time from February - usually 4 days a week. I am going to sign up
for A-kasse. How long do I have to be a member of A-kasse to have rights for
benefits (when I am not working on a full-time basis)?

Kind regards,

Agnieszka Ochnicka

Answer 1

1

Hi,

When you sign up for A-kasse, you must decide whether you want to be full-time or part-time insured. Your choice of insurance type has effect in different ways:

1. on how you earn the right to get Unemployment benefits
2. on how much you can be paid in unemployment benefits
3. on the price for A-kasse membership

Two types of insurance/A-kasse membership:

1. If you work more than 30 hours a week, you must be full-time insured.
2. If you work 30 hours a week or less, you can choose whether you want to be full-time or part-time insured.

You tell you work part-time so we assume that you will become part-time insured.

Regarding your question: How long do I have to be a member of A-kasse to have rights for
benefits?

You must know that from 1. of july 2017 it is no longer a question of how long you have been member of an A-kasse to being eligible for Unemployment benefits.

As we have answered in another question from 1. of july 2017 you obtain right to benefits if you have earned a specific salary during the last 3 years.

As an FULL-time insured 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 can include a maximum salary of DKK for 18,619 - per. month.

As an PART-time insured you obtain right to benefits if you have earned/have had an income of at least DKK 148.413 (in 2017) during the last 3 years (in total). You can include a maximum salary of DKK for 12,413 - per. month.

Also after 1. of july 2017 there is special rules on how you can get Unemployment benefits as an graduate.

Hope this helps you, otherwise please post a comment.

Best regards,

Anders, www.a-kasser.dk

Comments

Hi,

thank you very much for reply.

Usually I work 7 hours for 2 days and 8 hours for 2 days, so it is exactly 30 hours per week. Are the salaries, which you metioned, gross or net?
I have been working since February 2017.
To obtain rights to benefits I have to work at least for 3 years, have not I?
What will happen if my contract will not be prolonged after first year?
What will happen if I will be pregnant during first year on the part-time contract?

I will be grateful for help.

Kind regards,

AO

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Hi,

the salaries are always gross (before TAX).

No you do NOT need to work 3 years to obtain rights to benefits.
What the 3 year rule says - is that you DURING the last 3 years in TOTAL must have a income for at least DKK 223,428.
But you can say that the rule means that you must have worked for at least 12 months, because there is a limit of hos much income you can take in account every month. This is DKK 18,619 per month.
So if we think of a person who has a very high salary - he/she will still have to work at least 12 months to obtain rights to Unemployment benefits. Because he/she can only count maximum DKK 18,619 per month.
12xDKK 18,619=DKK 223,428.

So if your salary is at least DKK 18,619 per month, and your contract will NOT be prolonged after 1 year, then you will be eligible for unemployment benefits.

About pregnancy, we will recommend you to ask you A-kasse or Jobcenter what this means in relation to your unemployment benefits. But if you get normal salary from your employer during pregnancy, this will be regarded as normal salary/work in relation to obtain right to Unemployment benefits.

But remember that in addition to the requirement for a certain income during the last 3 years, there is also a requirement that must you have been a member of an A-kasse for at least 1 year before you can receive unemployment benefits.

Best regards,
Anders, www.a-kasser.dk