ARE YOU RETURNING TO DENMARK?
When you have been working abroad your work might make you eligible for unemployment insurance benefits in Denmark.
If you have worked abroad, then you must become a member of FTFa again not later than eight weeks after your unemployment insurance benefit in the foreign unemployment insurance fund has expired. Otherwise, you will lose all the seniority you have accrued while you were abroad.
Contact us in good time before your departure or before returning home, so that we can advise you about your options.
You must also notify us of any changes to your address, as we do not receive automatic address updates, when you live abroad.
You need at least 296 hours of paid unsupported work within 12 weeks/three months before you can qualify for unemployment insurance benefits in another EEA country again. For part-time insured members the minimum requirement is 148 hours.
Your work abroad also counts in the hourly requirement.
When you return to Denmark, you can usually count the periods of service and insurance from the EEA country. One of the conditions is that you have applied for admission to a Danish unemployment insurance fund within 8 weeks of the expiration of your period of insurance abroad.
If you know that you will be unemployed when you return to Denmark, we recommend that you get document PD-U1 from the other EEA country. The document will be issued by the employment services in the EEA country.
It is advisable to contact us, either immediately before or right after your return to Denmark.
You can maintain your membership in FTFa if you are working in a country outside the EEA.
Keep the documentation of the work you have had abroad such as pay slips and contracts. Your periods of service abroad will normally be included if you later on apply for unemployment insurance benefits in Denmark.
It is advisable to contact us either immediately before or right after your return to Denmark.
You have the opportunity to apply for work in another EEA country for up to three months while receiving unemployment insurance benefits from Denmark.
You have to register with the local job centre in the city you go to. If you do not know where to find it, you can ask at the local city hall or library. FTFa is not familiar with the location of job centres abroad.
You can take your unemployment insurance benefits with you abroad for three months if you:
- Are a citizen of an EEA country
- Are a member of a Danish unemployment insurance fund
- Live and reside in Denmark on the day of departure
- Have been unemployed for at least four weeks. However, dispensations can be made.
- Are eligible for unemployment insurance benefits the day you leave
- Have applied for EEA-unemployment benefits before you leave Register at the local job centre in the city you travel to
- Are available for the labour market in the country you travel to Remain in the country in which you have applied for EEA-unemployment benefits
If you do not find work in the country you have gone to, you must return to Denmark and register at the job centre before the three months have passed. Otherwise, you will lose your eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits in Denmark.
You need to have at least 296 hours of paid, unsupported work within 12 weeks/three months before you are entitled to unemployment insurance benefits in another EEA country again. Persons insured part-time are required to have worked at least 148 hours.
Your work abroad also counts when you have to fulfil the hours required.