WORKING ABROAD OR RETURNING 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.

First of all, it is important that you contact FTFa before departing to another country. The rules covering the area are very complex, and they also differ from one country to another.

If you want to go to seek employment in another EEA country and take your unemployment insurance benefit with you, you must complete an application form for EEA unemployment insurance benefits.

You must send the EEA application form to FTFa within two weeks before your departure. Then you must deregister at the job centre on the actual day of your departure.

If you do not find employment in the country where you have moved, to be able to receive unemployment insurance benefits again, it is important that you return to Denmark and register at the job centre before the three-month period for receiving unemployment insurance benefits in Denmark expires.

If you obtain work as self-employed or freelance in another EEA country, we recommend that you contact us. You cannot be certain that you can be insured in the other EEA country. In that case, you can maintain your Danish insurance.

If you become unemployed and need benefits, you will need document PD-U1. The document confirms your periods of work and insurance in Denmark. Contact us if you need document PD-U1.

If you find work outside the EEA / EU after you have worked in an EEA / EU country, you may be readmitted in FTFa. You must apply for readmission within 8 weeks of the expiration of your unemployment insurance in the EEA / EU. Please note this is only possible within 5 years of your latest membership in a Danish unemployment insurance fund.

The same applies if you get another job in an EEA / EU country where you cannot be insured.

You must have been unemployed for at least four weeks in order to be eligible for unemployment insurance benefits while applying for a job in another EEA country, however there are exemptions.

You can apply for dispensations from the four-week rule if you:

• Move abroad with a spouse/partner who has to work or study
• Are going to an interview abroad
• Are a citizen of the EEA country where you wish to look for employment

You have to be able to document why you apply for dispensation. Send the documentation along with your application for unemployment insurance benefits abroad at Tast Selv.

It is important that you contact us if you want an exemption from the four-week rule so you can forward the correct documentation.

The European Economic Area (EEA) comprises all EU countries plus Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway.

Today the EU consists of 28 countries:

Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus (Greek part), Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Netherlands, Ireland, Italy, Croatia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Romania, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, United Kingdom, Sweden, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary & Austria.

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.

As a rule, when you live in the Faroe Islands, you must be insured there. This does not apply if the period of work does not exceed 6 months or if you otherwise cannot be insured there. You should therefore not cancel your FTFa membership until you are absolutely sure that you are covered by an unemployment insurance fund in the Faroe Islands.

If you cannot register in the Faroe Islands, you can maintain your membership in FTFa.

You should always consult with us if you find a job.

If you become unemployed and need benefits, you will need certificate N 301. It certifies your periods of service and insurance in Denmark. You can call us, and we will send the form to you.

The periods of service and insurance from the Faroe Islands will normally be included. One of the conditions is that you have applied for admission to a Danish unemployment insurance fund within 8 weeks of the expiration of the coverage of your unemployment insurance in the Faroe Islands.

If you know that you will be unemployed when you return to Denmark, we recommend that you get certificate N 301 from the Faroe Islands. The authority which issues the certificate is Arbeidsloysisskipanin in Torshavn. For more information, visit www.als.fo.

It is a good idea to contact FTFa at +45 7013 1312, either immediately before or right after your return to Denmark.