What You Need to Know When Registering as Unemployed as a Recent Graduate

1. Register as unemployed on the first day you're eligible for benefits

If you want to apply for unemployment benefits, you must register as unemployed on Jobnet.dk.

You can only receive benefits from the day you register as unemployed on Jobnet.dk.

2. When can you start receiving benefits?

You are entitled to unemployment benefits from the day after your education ends if you have been a member of CA (unemployment insurance fund) for at least one year before finishing your education.

If you have not been a member for at least one year, you are only eligible for unemployment benefits one month after completing your education.

3. Your student job may affect your benefits

If you have a student job, you should consider whether you want to continue in the position after graduation.

If you do continue, you can choose between different benefit models. These may affect how long you can receive benefits, how much you’ll get, and whether you need to meet a language requirement.

You may also choose not to continue in the job.

Here are your options:

Be careful about getting a quarantine period if you resign from your student job.
The general rule is: If you resign, you will be subject to a quarantine, meaning you cannot receive benefits for the first 111 hours you are unemployed. That equals about 3 weeks of full-time work.

The quarantine can only be served during a period when you’re eligible for benefits. Time during which you are not registered as unemployed on Jobnet.dk, are on vacation, or are not actively seeking work for any reason, does not count toward the quarantine period.

If you are not yet eligible for unemployment benefits when you resign from your student job and plan to apply as a recent graduate, you may be able to avoid quarantine — but only if you resign and leave your position no later than the day BEFORE you complete your education. If you do it later, you will incur a quarantine.

If your employer terminates your job, or your contract ends:
If you’re let go, or your contract expires as you finish your education, this does not affect your right to receive unemployment benefits. However, you must not accept a shorter notice period than what you are entitled to.

You can keep your job and receive supplementary benefits
If you work less than 145 hours per month, you may be eligible for supplementary benefits. However, you must meet the conditions for receiving supplementary unemployment benefits.

4. Self-employment may affect your benefits

If you run your own business, it's very important to understand the rules that apply if you wish to continue your business while receiving unemployment benefits. In most cases, you can continue the business — but only if you meet several criteria for combining self-employment with unemployment benefits.

5. For studies abroad, you must return to Denmark within 14 days of completing your education

If you studied abroad, you must be residing in Denmark no later than 14 days after finishing your education. Otherwise, you will not be eligible for unemployment benefits based solely on your completed education.

6. Residence in Denmark before starting your education

You must have been residing in Denmark immediately before starting your education.

If you're an EU citizen and started your education during the periods March 14, 2020 – June 27, 2020 or January 9, 2021 – April 17, 2021, you may be granted an exemption if COVID-19 restrictions prevented you from physically residing in Denmark when your education began.