What is my unemployment benefit rate?

Overview of unemployment benefit rates in 2024

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How we calculate your unemployment benefit rate

If you are an employee, we can calculate your unemployment benefit rate based on A and B income, from which labor market contributions are paid. Please note that this means that we cannot include income that does not meet the requirement.

If you're self-employed, we can calculate your unemployment benefit rate based on your company's profits. Read more about self-employment. B-income and profits from self-employment must be stated in your annual statement.

When we calculate how much you can receive in unemployment benefits, we do the following:

• We look at your salary income for the last 24 months (two years).
• We select the 12 months with the highest income and calculate your unemployment benefit rate based on them.

If you haven't had 12 months of income, we will make a calculation based on the months where you have reported hours.

If you haven't worked at all within the last 24 months, we extend the period to 36 months (three years).

As a recent graduate, you get the graduate rate

Your graduate rate depends on whether you have dependents and whether you are at least 30 years old.

If you are a dependent (regardless of age), you will receive 82% of the highest unemployment benefit rate throughout your benefit period. The rate is DKK 17,295 as a full-time insured and DKK 11,530 as a part-time insured

If you are not a dependent, your rate depends on your age.

If you are 30 years or older, your full-time unemployment benefit rate will be DKK 15,081 per month until you have received 481 hours (three months) in unemployment benefits. After that, your benefit rate will be DKK 13,100 per month. As a part-time insured, your unemployment benefit rate will be DKK 10,054 per month until you have been paid 390 hours in unemployment benefit. After that, your rate will be DKK 8,733 per month.

If you are under 30 years of age, your full-time unemployment benefit rate will be DKK 15,081 per month until you have been paid 481 hours (three months) in unemployment benefits. After that, you will receive DKK 10,371 per month. As a part-time insured, your unemployment benefit rate will be DKK 10,054 per month until you have been paid 390 hours in unemployment benefit. After that, you will receive DKK 6,941 per month.

If you have a child or turn 30, your rate changes from the 1st of the month following the birth or your birthday respectively.

If you are a recent graduate with paid work after graduation

If you have been working after you graduated, you can choose to receive unemployment benefits based on a combination of hours you worked after you graduated and months you were in education. This is called the aggregation rule.

You must have been a member of an unemployment insurance fund for at least one year and meet an income requirement if you do not already have unemployment benefit. Months of education count as 1 month of work when we calculate the income requirement. Read more about the income requirement.

You must make your choice no later than 14 days after you have completed your education. You cannot change your mind after the 14 days have passed.

If you choose to use the aggregation rule, you must have calculated an unemployment benefit rate based on the best 12 months within the last 24 months, with income from employment you have had while you have been a member of an unemployment fund. Here, the education does not count as income.

This means that you may risk having a very low unemployment benefit rate calculated. Conversely, if your income has been high, you may also be calculated an unemployment benefit rate that is higher than the rate for recent graduates.

Example of unemployment benefit rate calculation

In the past 24 months (two years) you have had:

• 13 months with an income of 23,000 per month
• 10 months with an income of 28,500 per month

We use the 10 months with an income of DKK 28,500 and two months with DKK 23,000 as a starting point. This gives a total calculation basis of DKK 331,000.

The calculation

We take the calculation basis and subtract the labor market contribution of 8%. That's because you don't pay it when you're unemployed.

(Revenue base in the calculation period x 0.92): 12 x 0.9

331,000 x 0.92 = 304,520 kr.

Average monthly salary: 304,520/12= 25,377 kr.

90% of the average: 25,377 x 0.90 = DKK 22,839

The amount thus exceeds the maximum rate, and your unemployment benefit rate will be the highest unemployment benefit rate of DKK 21,092 per month.

Get a new unemployment benefit rate calculated

You can get a new rate calculated in the following situations:

• New placement: When you are completely new to the unemployment benefit system.
• Reinstatement: If you have been in the unemployment benefit system before, but have now earned a new right to unemployment benefits.
• When changing insurance: You will get a new rate calculated if you transfer from full-time to part-time insurance.

If you are a graduate, you will have the opportunity to have a new rate calculated after six months if you have had work that meets the conditions. Read more about unemployment benefits for recent graduates.