Conditions for your compensation in a programme

When you are participating in a programme and are receiving activity support (aktivitetsstöd), development allowance (utvecklingsersättning), or introduction benefit (etableringsersättning), you must actively be applying to suitable jobs and submit an activity report (aktivitetsrapport) every month. Read here about what you must do to avoid getting a warning or having your compensation suspended for one or more days.

What you need to do

So that you are not at risk of mismanaging your job search and going without compensation for one or more days, you must actively apply for jobs and follow the plan we developed together. If you are receiving support from one of our suppliers, you must also follow the plan and agreements you have with your case worker there.

That means you must:

  • actively apply for suitable jobs (unless stated otherwise in your action plan, found on My pages (Mina sidor)): job listings, jobs we have suggested to you or urged you to apply for, and spontaneous applications, for example, submitting your CV to employers
  • apply for jobs or training programmes we have urged (directed) you to apply to
  • submit your activity report to us between the 1st and 14th of each month, in which you list all jobs you have applied for and other activities you have completed
  • develop an action plan together with us for how you will get a job
  • participate in activities in your programme
  • participate in meetings with us and our suppliers
  • answer the phone when we have agreed to call you
  • contact us and our suppliers at the scheduled times.

To not prolong your unemployment and risk having your compensation suspended for several days, you must also accept:

  • jobs you are offered
  • training programmes we have urged you to apply to and to which you have been admitted
  • job interviews, and do your best to be offered the job
  • activities offered in your programme.

Suitable jobs include those in which you have experience or training/education. Other jobs where your skills would apply are also suitable. Applying for jobs in several different professions will increase your opportunities to get a job. Remember that these must be jobs that you have a realistic chance of getting. Jobs that require particular training, a certain education level, certification or authorisation that you do not have are not suitable.

If an employer wants to hire you and thinks you have the right skills, the job is suitable.

If for medical reasons you cannot apply for or accept certain types of jobs, you must certify that with a medical certificate

How many jobs you should apply for when participating in a programme depends on which programme you are in. Your action plan might say how many suitable jobs you should apply for in order to have a good chance of getting a job as quickly as possible, for example 6-20. The lowest number is the minimum number of suitable jobs you should apply for each month in order for us to consider you to be actively searching for work.

If we assess that you do not have good possibilities to find work within daily commuting distance, then you should also apply for suitable jobs in other parts of the country. Daily commuting distance ordinarily means that you can commute to your job, work, and commute home again within 12 hours. If we assess that you do not have good possibilities to find work in your current professional field, then you should also apply for suitable jobs in other professions. You can find what applies for you in your action plan.

In some cases, the Public Employment Service (Arbetsförmedlingen) may also determine that you do not need to apply for a job while participating in the programme. If so, your action plan will say this. If you are unsure, you can ask us.

Be sure to enter every job you have applied for in your activity report: job listings, spontaneous applications, or jobs we have suggested or urged you to apply for. Your activity report is an important document for us to be able to assess whether you have actively been searching for suitable jobs.

Jobs you should apply for

When you become unemployed, we assess whether you have a good chance of finding a job in your professional field and within daily commuting distance. If not, you will have to apply for jobs in other occupations and in other parts of the country.

Jobs you should apply for – broaden your professional and geographical horizons

We occasionally check to see if you have applied for the jobs you have reported in your activity report. It is therefore important that you save documents for at least three months that demonstrate that you have applied for these jobs.

If you are chosen for a check, we will send you a letter. The letter will state which jobs we want you to show that you applied for. We will also discuss how and when you will respond to us at the latest.

You can show that you have applied for a job by sending, for example:

  • your application or your CV
  • a response from the employer showing that you applied for the job, or some other document showing that the employer received your application
  • a screenshot of a confirmation that you applied for the job.

Save documents showing that you applied for a job for at least three months. If you do not answer in time or if you cannot show that you applied for enough jobs, you may receive a warning or have your compensation suspended for one or more days.

What happens if you do not do what you should

The Public Employment Service checks that you meet the conditions for compensation in your programme. We will begin an investigation that may lead to a warning or to suspension of your compensation for one or more days if you mishandle your job search or prolong your unemployment.

If you receive support from our suppliers, they are required to notify the Public Employment Service if you do not attend activities or meetings, or if you do not follow your plan in some other way. They must also notify us if you do anything that prolongs your unemployment. Your case worker cannot make an exception or ignore reasons for your absence; they must report everything to us.

If the Public Employment Service begins an investigation, we will contact you via letter. You will have the chance to submit additional information before we make our final decision.

Submit additional information

  • First time: you are issued a warning.
  • Second time: One day without compensation.
  • Third time: Five days without compensation.
  • Fourth time: Ten days without compensation.
  • Fifth and every subsequent time: 45 days without compensation. If your compensation is based on unemployment benefit, this is reduced to SEK 223 per day after the 45 days.

  • First time: Five days without compensation.
  • Second time: Ten days without compensation.
  • Third time: 45 days without compensation.
  • Fourth and every subsequent time: 45 days without compensation. If your compensation is based on unemployment benefit, this is reduced to SEK 223 per day after the 45 days.

If you have worked and fulfil a work condition

If you have worked and fulfil a work condition, the suspension may last fewer days or you may only receive a warning. If your compensation has been reduced due to repeated suspensions, the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan) can reset your compensation level, provided that you fulfil a work condition.

Your unemployment insurance fund calculates whether you fulfil a work condition. For them to do so, you must fill in the form and submit it to your unemployment insurance fund:

Request the unemployment insurance fund (a-kassa) for certification of work condition (in Swedish) Pdf, 1012 kB.

How your sickness benefit qualifying income (SGI) is affected if your compensation is suspended

If you do not fulfil the condition and your compensation is suspended, this may affect your right to sickness benefit qualifying income (SGI). Your SGI forms the basis of how much money you receive if you go on parental leave, for example. Contact the Swedish Social Insurance Agency if you have any questions about this.

If you think our decision is wrong

If you think we have made an incorrect decision, you can request a review. Fill in and submit to us the form: “Request for review of a decision on a warning or sanction” (Begäran om omprövning av beslut om varning eller sanktion).

Request review of a decision

Notify us of absence

You must notify us on the first day you are sick or caring for a sick child and are unable to participate in your programme. If you need to be off, you must contact us first for approval.

Notify us of absence when you are sick

Notify us of absence to care for a sick child (VAB)

As a rule, spending time abroad while you are in a programme is not allowed. There are some exceptions. If you travel abroad without approval from the Public Employment Service, you may lose your place in the programme. That means you also lose your compensation and the opportunity to participate in programme activities.

Frequently asked questions

While participating in a programme, you must submit an activity report every month, even if your action plan says you do not need to apply for jobs. There may be other activities to report.

If you have nothing to report, state that in your activity report.

If you are receiving support to start a business, you do not need to submit an activity report while receiving that support. You also do not need to submit an activity report if you are in the mapping phase of the introduction programme (etableringsprogrammet), or if you are participating in a study programme at an institution.

Together with you, the Public Employment Service is responsible for the overarching plan and will follow up with you to see how it is going. We may schedule meetings with you, which you must attend, while you are with a supplier.

Continue to submit a monthly activity report to us. This applies even if you are reporting your job applications to your case worker at the supplier.

If you become sick or need to stay home to care for a sick child, it is important that you contact the Public Employment Service on the first day. Notify your case worker as well.

Notify us of absence when you are sick

Notify us of absence to care for a sick child (VAB)

You should also contact the Public Employment Service if you get a job or start to study and therefore no longer need to stay in your programme, or if for some reason you do not want to continue, or are unable to continue the programme.

Your case worker must always notify us if you arrive late or leave early, no matter the reason for your absence. We will consider the reason and the impact of your absence on your ability to achieve the goal of the day’s activity. If we assess that you were neglectful, you may receive a warning or have your compensation suspended for one or more days.

If you need a whole day off for a medical visit, you must contact the Public Employment Service first for approval. Also notify your case worker so that they know that you will not be participating that day. If your absence for a medical visit will be shorter than an entire day, it is enough to notify the supplier.

If you do not submit a homework assignment on time, your case worker must notify us. If we assess that you were neglectful, you may receive a warning or have your compensation suspended for one or more days.

If your question is regarding payment, the compensation level, or how to fill in your application for compensation, contact the Swedish Social Insurance Agency.

Activity grant and development allowance (forsakringskassan.se)

Introduction benefit (etableringsersättning) (forsakringskassan.se)

Have you received a letter notifying you of an investigation about your compensation and you have questions? Or are you wondering why you received a decision about a warning or suspension? Contact the Compensation Examination Unit at the Public Employment Service. Contact information is in the letter.

If you have questions about the conditions and what you need to do so that you are not at risk of your compensation being suspended, contact the Public Employment Service.

Contact us