A-kassa is Sweden's unemployment insurance.

There are several unemployment insurance funds in Sweden, often connected to particular professions or industries. You normally choose an a-kassa that fits your occupation or employment situation.

The important thing to know is that the unemployment benefit rules are set by Swedish law. Your choice of a-kassa does not determine whether you receive a higher or lower statutory benefit.

Your a-kassa assesses your individual situation and decides whether you meet the requirements.

Sweden introduced a new unemployment insurance system on 1 October 2025.

Under the new system, benefits are based primarily on your previous income and your length of membership in an a-kassa, rather than simply how much you have worked.

This is particularly important if you have recently moved to Sweden or changed jobs.

The new system means that simply having a job — even a well-paid one — does not automatically guarantee a particular level of unemployment benefit.

You can now receive up to 80%, 60% or 50% of your previous income, depending in part on how long you have been a member of an a-kassa.

The income used to calculate the benefit is capped at SEK 34,000 per month.

That means the maximum benefit is currently SEK 27,200 per month before tax. The percentage also decreases during the period that you are unemployed.

Your actual benefit can therefore be considerably lower than your previous salary.

Under the new rules, your membership period affects the level of compensation.

Generally:

• 12 months or more of membership: up to 80% of your previous income
• 6–11 months: up to 60%
• 5 months or less: up to 50% (provided you meet the requirements)

The exact calculation depends on your circumstances and the rules that apply to your benefit period.

This is why joining an a-kassa before you need it can make a significant difference.

You don't have to be a member of a-kassa to receive a benefit, but membership can affect how much you receive.

The new system includes a basic level of unemployment insurance for people who meet the relevant conditions even if they are not members of an a-kassa.

However, being a member for longer can give you access to a higher level of income-related compensation.

To receive unemployment benefit, you generally need to:

• be at least 20 years old
• be registered as a jobseeker with Arbetsförmedlingen
• be able and willing to accept suitable work
• actively look for work
• meet the income requirements
• meet the other conditions that apply to your situation

Under the new system, the main income requirement is generally that you have earned at least SEK 11,000 per month for at least four months during the relevant 12-month period, with a total income of at least SEK 120,000.

There is also an alternative route based on earning at least SEK 11,000 for four consecutive months.

Your a-kassa checks your income information, including information reported to Skatteverket.

Periods such as parental leave, illness or full-time studies can sometimes affect which period is considered when assessing your eligibility.

If you've recently moved to Sweden, your employment history may also need additional consideration.

Don't try to calculate your benefit from your salary alone. Your a-kassa makes the actual assessment.

If you have moved to Sweden from another country, don't assume that your Swedish employment history tells the whole story.

If you have previously worked or been insured in another EU/EEA country, Switzerland or the UK, special coordination rules can apply. Your previous insurance or employment periods may be relevant when determining your rights.

The process can also be different if you have moved to Sweden from outside Europe.

If you've worked abroad, tell your a-kassa about it and provide the documents they ask for.

These organisations are easy to mix up, but they have different roles:

• A-kassa — provides unemployment insurance if you become unemployed and meet the relevant conditions
• Arbetsförmedlingen — registers you as a jobseeker and provides support while you look for work
• Försäkringskassan — administers social insurance benefits such as parental benefit and sickness benefit

They can all become relevant if you lose your job, but you deal with them for different reasons.

The first important step is to register with Arbetsförmedlingen on your first day of unemployment.

You then apply for unemployment benefit through your a-kassa.

Arbetsförmedlingen can also set requirements around your job search and activities while you receive unemployment benefit.

Your a-kassa assesses your situation and determines whether you qualify and how much you can receive.

You may need to provide information such as:

• employment details
• income information
• information about previous work
• details of any periods outside work
• documents relating to previous employment

Your a-kassa will tell you what information it needs.

Once you are receiving unemployment benefit, you also need to continue meeting the conditions.

This includes actively looking for suitable work and reporting your activities as required.

The number of months in which you meet the income requirements can affect the length of your benefit period. Your a-kassa will calculate how long you can receive compensation based on your individual situation.

The amount you receive can also decrease as your unemployment continues. After 100 benefit days, the compensation level is reduced by 10%. After another 100 days, it is reduced by a further 5%. So you should plan for your payments to decrease if you remain unemployed for a longer period.