Table 1 Policy changes 2006–2010 in unemployment and sickness insurance
Date | Sickness insurance | Date | Unemployment insurance |
|---|---|---|---|
2006-07 | The maximum level of sickness benefit qualifying income is raised from 7.5 to 10 times the price base amount. | 2007-01 | Raised fee for membership in unemployment insurance funds. |
2007 | Introduction of sick-listing guidelines. Recommendations of suitable sick-listing times for certain diagnoses. | 2007-01 | Stricter working conditions for entitlement to compensation, from 70 h/month during 6 months to 80/month during 6 months. |
2007-01 | Lowered compensation level from 10 times the price base amount to 7.5. | 2007-01 | Prolonged time frame from which the compensation is based on. From a compensation based on 6 months in a frame of 12 months to the whole frame of 12 months. |
2008-07 | Introduction of the rehabilitation chain. Stricter criteria and time limits for compensation and a reduction of compensation the longer the period of sick spell proceeds. Specific dates for assessment of work ability. | 2007-01 | The possibility to have compensation based on study time is removed. |
2008-07 | More stringent eligibility for disability pension. | 2007-03 | Time limits of compensation are introduced where the compensation is reduced as the unemployment proceeds. |
2008-07 | A person has a right to take leave because of illness to try another job. | 2007-07 | Prolonged period of compensation is taken away; maximum of compensation is during 300 days. |
2008-12 | Among disability pension recipients, compensation from insurance is reduced in connection with income from work. | 2007-10 | Days with unemployment benefit and/or activity grant is summed together meaning a maximum of days (300) is compensated regardless which type of compensation. |
2009-01 | A person is no longer entitled to let the compensation from the Social Insurance Agency rest for 3 month, when trying out work. Instead a smaller amount is paid monthly. | 2007-12 | Youth job program is introduced for those aged 16-24, who have been unemployed for at least 3 months and registered as actively seeking job during this time. |
2009-07 | Those who receive an activity grant are seen as unemployed and are transferred to the unemployment insurance fund if they are in an Active Labour Market Program (ALMP). | 2008-04 | Limitation of unemployment benefit when working part time. |
2010-01 | Those who have received the maximum number of days with sickness benefit or a time-limited disability pension are offered to participate in ALMP and receive activity compensation. | 2008-07 | Number of waiting days is raised from 5 to 7. |
2010-01 | The assessment of the person’s ability to work towards the whole labor market can be postponed if it is not considered suitable. | 2009-07 | More lenient criteria for unemployment insurance membership. |
2010-01 | Due to serious illness, the period of sickness benefit at 80% replacement rate can be prolonged after 364 days. | 2010-01 | People with maximum days of sickness benefit or time-limited disability pension can obtain unemployment benefit if certain criteria are fulfilled. |
2010-07 | For the self-employed a more generous calculation of the sickness qualified income and several alternatives for the number of waiting days is introduced. | 2010-01 | 12 month of membership for entitlement to unemployment benefit based on earlier income. |