FAQ FOR GRADUATES

https://tastselv.ftfa.dk/tastselv/studerende/uddannelse/uddannelsesafslutning/There are a number of things you will need to do if you are starting a new study programme that has no connection with your previous programme.

If you have completed your previous programme and have graduated from it, you should fill in the form Programme completion in order to secure your rights.

Next, apply for free membership of the unemployment insurance fund on the basis of your new programme by filling in this form: Apply for free membership.

Remember that you can only have free membership of the unemployment insurance fund for a maximum of five years.

NB: If you have had free membership during your previous study programme, and you have discontinued the programme without graduating/completing, you should fill in this form first: Discontinued programme with free membership

If you are still in study or training (enrolled in the programme), then as a member, you just need to supply information about the extension of your studies by completing this form: New completion date of programme

Your anticipated graduation will be moved to the new date.

As a member, you must inform us of when your programme of study or training was discontinued, as your free membership as a student concludes on that date. You will then become an ordinary member of the unemployment insurance fund, and will have to pay your membership fees as an employee. You can fill in the form here: Discontinued programme with free membership

Please note that there is a difference between whether you work full-time or part-https://tastselv.ftfa.dk/tastselv/studerende/medlemskab/har-afbrudt-uddannelse-med-gratis-medlemskabtime. If you are in doubt about this, we recommend that you call us.

If you do not wish to continue your membership as an employee, please contact us immediately.

There are a number of things you need to do if you are starting a new study programme which has no connection with your previous programme.

If you have had free membership during your previous programme, and you have discontinued the programme without graduating/completing, you must fill in this form first: Discontinued programme with free membership

Next, apply for free membership of the unemployment insurance fund on the basis of your new programme by filling in this form: Apply for free membership

Remember that you can only have free membership of the unemployment insurance fund for a maximum of five years.

That’s fantastic! Congratulations – then what you need to do is simple:

Click here to go to self-service and fill in the form “Study programme completion”. That way, you will be guaranteed your financial rights and can continue to be a member as an employee. If you need help or advice, we stand ready to help.

You can find out when to register as unemployed after your study programme here.

You can read more about supplementary unemployment benefit here.

In FTFa we bill for the membership a quarter in advance. That can mean that you will receive a bill before you have graduated.

For example, if you graduate in the middle of June, you will receive a bill in April for the last half of June where you are no longer a student and therefore cannot continue your free membership.

Your membership fee for FTFa is billed in advance and quarterly. That means you pay for three months at a time. We do this to make it as affordable as possible for you, and to avoid imposing too many collection fees. FTFa is one of the country’s least expensive unemployment insurance funds, with a membership fee of just DKK 488 per month. If you are a member of another unemployment insurance fund to which you have paid a fee in advance, your payment will be offset if you switch to FTFa.

This is quite normal. Since people usually conclude a programme of study or training in an ongoing quarter, and because we at FTFa have chosen to bill quarterly in advance in order to save you money, you will sometimes receive a bill before you have completed your programme. You can see the date that you have registered in self-service as the conclusion of your programme here. If you intend to continue your studies or training, you can re-apply for a free or reduced membership fee.

No, all unemployment insurance funds are not the same, and there are actually some quite big differences. FTFa is one of the country’s least expensive unemployment insurance funds: you can save up to DKK 600 annually as a member of FTFa, compared to other, more expensive, unemployment insurance funds. In addition, all unemployment insurance funds offer different member benefits. At FTFa, we can for example offer you feedback on your CV, job applications and upcoming job interviews within 24 hours, as well as career advice, relevant podcasts, exciting articles, videos and more. All of this is included in your membership.

No – actually we are one of the country’s least expensive unemployment insurance funds. We are able to do this because we make sure we only spend time and energy on what you need as a member. You can save a lot of money by being a member of the right unemployment insurance fund.

In fact, ten years’ membership of FTFa can pay for itself if you receive unemployment benefit for just three months during those ten years. That’s why unemployment insurance funds are extremely important, and are a cornerstone in how the Danish labour market is built up in relation to starting a new job, changing jobs or becoming unemployed.

You may have heard of “the Danish model”. Unemployment insurance funds are important in Danish society because we have built up a unique model in the employment market. It is natural in Denmark to change jobs, and it is natural to receive financial support and security in periods between jobs. This is called the Danish model, and it is the reason why more than 83% of all Danish employees are members of an unemployment insurance fund. In brief, an unemployment insurance fund is your economic security if you change jobs, become unemployed or remain outside the labour market for a period of time. This is a unique thing that we have in Denmark, and FTFa is proud to be part of this model.

We wish you to be aware of the possible consequences if you opt to leave our unemployment insurance fund.

If you leave the fund, you will lose your right to unemployment benefit if you become unemployed at some point, or are between two jobs. This right is not easy to regain, as it requires that you re-join the fund, pay a full year’s membership fees and be in full-time employment for the same period in order to be eligible for unemployment benefit again. You should therefore be sure that you are aware of these consequences.

If you still wish to opt out of the unemployment insurance fund system, you should fill in a form in our self-service. We will then process your membership cancellation and contact you by phone to make sure everything is as it should be in your particular situation before we sign you out. We would not wish you to lose your rights without us having made it clear what that means. We are here to help you and ensure the best departure for you if you wish to opt out.

Yes, you can. Withdrawing from an unemployment insurance fund is not without consequences: You will lose your earned rights and your right to financial security if you become unemployed or are between two jobs. That’s why most people choose not to opt out of the unemployment insurance fund.

If you change industry and wish to change your union in that connection, or if you no longer wish to be a member of the union, you can of course continue to be a member of FTFa and in that way maintain your financial security in case you lose your job or have a break between two jobs.

If you leave the union, it won’t affect your membership with us.