How to get benefits as a new graduate from 1 May 2023

This is the most common way to benefits entitlement for new graduates.

You will be entitled to benefits based on your degree if you

• have completed a certified programme of at least 18 months (i.e. studies covered by the Danish Students' Grants and Loans Scheme - in Danish: SU.
• have resided and been present in Denmark just before you started studying and no later than 14 days after the completion of your studies
• meet a language requirement
• have informed us within 14 days of your graduation that you have graduated.

How long?

You are eligible for benefits for 1,924 hours within a period of two years. 1,924 hours correspond to full benefits for a year.

How much?

Your benefits as a new graduate depend on whether

• you are a parent with dependent children
• you have reached the age of 30.

If you are a parent with dependent children?

You will receive a monthly amount of DKK 16,177 in benefits before tax. Your rate will not drop as long as you’re a parent with dependent children.

If you are not a parent with dependent children?

You will receive a monthly amount of DKK 14,106 in benefits before tax for the first 481 hours you’re unemployed. 481 hours are equivalent to full-time benefits for a period of three months. 

The benefit rate will then be reduced to

• DKK 12,253 if you have reached the age of 30
• DKK 9,700 if you have not reached the age of 30.

If you turn 30 while you’re unemployed, your benefits will increase to DKK 12,253 from the first day of the month following your 30^th birthday.

If you have a child, your monthly benefits will increase to DKK 16,177 before tax from the first day of the month after you have given birth regardless how many hours you have received benefits.

How to get a calculation of your new benefit rate

Whether or not you have dependent children, you can ask us to calculate an individual and perhaps higher benefit rate if:

• you have had income from work for at least three months after the end of your studies, and
• at least six months have passed since you graduated.

When?

You’re entitled to benefits already the day after the end of your studies if you have been a member of CA for at least one year before you complete your studies.

If you have been a member for less than a year, you will not be entitled to benefits as a new graduate until one month after the end of your studies.

You’re not entitled to benefits until the day you register as unemployed at jobnet.dk and you have made yourself available for full-time paid work.

If you work after your studies - either part-time or full-time - you will also be eligible for benefits based on both your degree and the work you have had.

In that case, you’ll be entitled to benefits for two years, and not just one year. Nor will you be required to meet the language requirement that applies if your benefits entitlement is based on your degree only.

On the other hand, you will not receive a fixed benefit rate for new graduates under this model.

Instead we will calculate a benefit rate based on the work you have had. Please note that this may result in higher or lower benefits than in model 1, depending on how much you have earned.

How?

Four conditions must be met in order for you to be eligible for benefits based on both your degree and subsequent work:

1. You must have completed a certified programme of at least 18 months (i.e. studies covered by the Danish Students' Grants and Loan Scheme – in Danish: SU
2. You must have had work after you have completed your studies. It does not need to be full-time work.
3. You must have been a member of an unemployment insurance fund for at least twelve months at the time when you apply for benefits.
4. You may not first have received benefits as a new graduate.

How long?

You are entitled to benefits for 3,848 hours within a period of three years. 3,848 hours correspond to full benefits for two years.

How much?

We will calculate your benefit rate based on the twelve best income months within the past 24 months. If you have worked less than twelve months, we will calculate the average income based on the months you have worked.

We can only use periods of work during which you have been a member of an unemployment insurance fund.

The rate we calculate for you will be fixed throughout your benefit period.

When?

You are entitled to benefits the day after your first day of work after you have completed your studies. You will not receive benefits until we can see your salary in the income register of the Danish Tax Agency. If you have had full-time work, you are entitled to benefits only when you are unemployed again.

You’re not entitled to benefits until the day you register as unemployed at jobnet.dk and you have made yourself available for full-time work.

This model can only be used if you can meet the requirements for receiving benefits based on income from work only.

In other words, without also using your period of studies. You do not need to have had work after you graduated if you can meet the income requirements within the past three years before you apply for benefits.

This gives you the right to a longer benefits period, not to meet the language requirement and perhaps to a better rate depending on the income from work you have had.

How?

You must meet the same requirements as when you become unemployed after having had work:

• Within the past three years, you have had income from work of at least DKK 254,328. The income is calculated on a monthly basis, and you can include an income of no more than DKK 21,194 each month.
• All income subject to labour market contributions you have earned in the past three years can be included in the calculation.
• But only income from work in the months you have been a member of an unemployment insurance fund may be included.
• You must have been a member of an unemployment insurance fund for at least twelve months at the time when you register as unemployed.

How long?

You are entitled to benefits for 3,848 hours within a period of three years. 3,848 hours correspond to full benefits for two years.

How much?

We will calculate your benefit rate based on the twelve best income months within the past 24 months. If you have worked less than twelve months, we will calculate the average income based on the months you have worked.

We can only use periods of work during which you have been a member of an unemployment insurance fund.

The rate we calculate for you will be fixed throughout your benefit period.

When?

From the day after you have completed your studies.

You’re not entitled to benefits until the day you register as unemployed at jobnet.dk and you have made yourself available for full-time work.