1. Social security – persons covered
All employed and self employed are covered by the social insurance scheme and the unemployment insurance scheme

2. Institutions – Unemployment Insurance Scheme
The Swedish Unemployment Insurance Board (IAF) is in charge of overall supervision of the Unemployment Insurance Scheme
The Unemployment Insurance Funds make decisions about and pay unemployment benefits
The Employment Service informs about the Unemployment Insurance Scheme and check that jobseekers actively look for work and accept suitable job offers
Institutions – Unemployment Insurance Scheme

3. Universal Basic Insurance Scheme – covers all employed and self-employed
Voluntary Insurance Scheme (loss of earnings insurance) for all employed and self-employed applying for membership in one of the 37 Unemployment Insurance Funds. Monthly fee: SEK 100 (EUR 11)
Persons covered

4. Self-Employed - definition
”Persons who own or are part owners – directly or indirectly – of business operations in which they are personally active and over which they have significant influence”
(The Unemployment Insurance Act, 34§)
Self-Employed - definition

5. Unemployment - definition
“..personal activity in the business upon an overall assessment may be deemed to have ceased..”
“..temporarily ceases… shall be deemed to be unemployed provided that the cessation of the business is not to any extent of a seasonal nature and that no operations are conducted through the business..”
(Unemployment Insurance Act, 35§)
Unemployment - definition

6. Basic requirements for benefits
Claimant must be:
Partially or wholly unemployed and registered with the PES
Employable, i.e. not sick or otherwise unfit for employment
Able to work at least 3 hrs per working day and an average of 17 hrs per week
Prepared to accept suitable work when offered such by the public Employment Service
Co-operating with the Employment Services in drawing up a individual plan of action
Actively searching for suitable employment
Basic requirements for benefits

7. The Optional Insurance
Payment of benefits require:
membership of an Insurance Fund for a minimum of 12 months
fulfilment of periods of employment (~ at least six months work performed)
The Optional Insurance

8. Benefits for Self-Employed
The Benefits are calculated on the average income during the last three years prior to the year of closure
General Insurance; fixed amount of EUR 35 / day
Optional Insurance; 80% of previous income; maximum of EUR 78 / day the first 100 days and then EUR 73 / day (SEK 730/680)
Benefits are taxable and paid for 300 (+300) days 5 days a week
Benefits for Self-Employed

9. Financing the Insurance
Contributions from employers and employed; up to 90% of paid benefits
Membership fees to the funds make up the last 10%
Financing the Insurance

10. Aggregation – new regulation
EU-regulation 883/2004, article 61, states that aggregation of periods of self-employed between member states is possible
Article 62, calculation of benefits for employed and self employed
Challenges?
Aggregation – new regulation