New benefit rules for graduates from 1 May 2023

The Danish Ministry of Employment has just announced that new rules changing the benefits paid to new graduates will become effective from 1 May 2023.

New benefit rules for new graduates will apply from 1 May 2023.

After the first three months of unemployment, the rate of benefits payable to graduates will be lower. The benefits will not lowered however if you are a parent with dependent children.
New graduates will be entitled to benefits for one year as opposed to previously two years.
To be eligible for benefits as a new graduate, you must meet a language requirement.

The rules differ depending on whether you are paid benefits as a graduate before or after 1 May

	You are unemployed and are paid benefits for a period before 1 May 2023	You register as unemployed on 1 May 2023 or later.

After three months of unemployment, the benefits will be reduced	Yes, unless you are a parent with dependent children	Yes, unless you are a parent with dependent children
Benefit period	Benefits entitlement for two years	Benefits entitlement for one year
Language requirement to be eligible for benefits	No	Yes

The benefit rate will be reduced after three months of unemployment – but not if you are a parent with dependent children.

From 1 May 2023, the monthly amount of benefits paid to new graduates will fall after three months of unemployment – but not if you have are a parent with dependent children.

Unemployment before 1 May will also count, but the benefits will not be reduced until 1 May.

The right of new graduates to receive benefits	Monthly benefits – the first three months of unemployment	Monthly benefits – after three months of unemployment

New graduates without dependent children – below the age of 30	DKK 14,106	DKK 9,669
New graduates without dependent children – from the age of 30	DKK 14,106	DKK 12,252
New graduates with dependent children	DKK 16,177	DKK 16,177

You will be entitled to a calculation of an individual and perhaps better benefit rate if:

you have received pay for at least three months after the end of your studies, and
at least six months have passed since you graduated.

The benefit period will be halved if you graduate on 1 May 2023 or later.

If you are a new graduate and are paid benefits before 1 May 2023, you will be entitled to benefits for two years.
If you do not become unemployed as a new graduate until 1 May 2023 or later, you only be entitled to benefits for one year.

If you have found work after the end of your studies, but not enough to earn a new period with benefits, you have the right to extend your benefits entitlement period.

New graduates must meet a language requirement or a work requirement

If you require benefits as a new graduate from 1 May 2023 or later, you must meet a language requirement to receive benefits.

You meet the language requirement if you have:

passed a test in the Danish Education 2 (Dansk 2) or a Danish test at the same or higher level* or
completed at least sixth grade in the Danish Folkeskole)*,

* see below for other studies that meet the language requirement

If you cannot meet the language requirement, you will also be eligible if you meet a work requirement.

To meet this requirement you must:

have had at least 600 hours of work in Denmark** in the last 24 months and
have had work hours in at least 12 months of the last 24 months.

** Work from another EEA country, Switzerland and Great Britain count towards the 600 hours, as long as you have worked at least 150 hours in Danmark after your work in EEA, Switzerland and Great Britain.

If you are not able to meet these requirements, you are welcome to contact us for other options.

* These studies will also meet the language requirements:

Examination certificate for higher education, e.g. at universities, vocational schools, business schools, nursing schools, seminars, etc., unless it is a foreign language course.

Passed exam in the Danish Education 3 (Prøve i Dansk 3) with an average grade of at least 6 (according to the 13-scale) or 02 (according to the 7-step scale) or the Proficiency Test passed with at least a grade of 6 (according to the 13-scale) or 02 (according to the 7-step scale) in each of the four disciplines

Danish Folkeskole leaving Examination, after 9th or 10th grade, with an average grade of at least 6 (according to the 13-scale) or 02 (according to the 7-step scale) in the Danish disciplines except for order.

Examination certificate for Higher General Examination Programme (STX Program), Higher Preparatory Examination Programme (HF Program), Higher Commercial Examination Program (HHX Program) or Higher Technical Examination Programme (HTX Program) as well as for the Vocational Education Examination qualifying for access to higher education (EUX)

Evidence of the General Adult Education (avu). In Danish: almen forberedelseseksamen.

Passed single subject examination in Danish or in Danish as a Second Language with an average grade of at least 6 (according to the 13-scale) or 02 (according to the 7-step scale) at one of the levels G-A from one of the following programmes: HF, HHX, HTX, EUX, EUD or AVU (see above).

Passed the Preparatory Adult Education (FVU) level 2 – 4. In Danish: Forberedende voksenundervisning

Passed exam in International Baccalaureate (IB) at Danish level A- or B

Passed the Danish Education 3 (Dansk Prøve 3) from “Studieskolen” in Copenhagen

Completed dyslexia education for adults (ordblindeundervisning for voksne)

Termbase For translation of danish educational terms

Contact us

You are naturally most welcome to contact us at +45 3314 9045 if you have any questions to this article.