SULF

Income Protection Insurance – supplement

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Income protection insurance is included in your membership provided that you are entitled to compensation from the Swedish unemployment benefit fund (a-kassa).

The compensation ceiling for ordinary a-kassa corresponds to 80 percent of a compensation-based income up to SEK 33,000 per month. Through the income protection insurance, you get protection on income up to 80 percent of a compensation-earning income up to SEK 80,000 per month.

If you have compensation-earning income below SEK 33,000 but above SEK 27,500 per month, you are covered by income protection insurance from days 101 to 150.

Your protection lasts for a maximum of 150 days but you can take out a supplement that gives you a further 150 days - a total of 300 days.

If you receive compensation from your income protection insurance, you will also have access to career coaching.

The income protection insurance also applies when SULF represents its members in the event of a dispute with the employer under Section 34 of the Employment Protection Act (LAS) for up to 300 days.

  • You get security extended from 150 days to 300 days

  • You will have time to sort out your situation and find a new job

  • Especially useful if the labour market is sluggish or if there is a recession

Important to know

  • Who is covered?
    You are covered by the insurance if you have been a member of SULF for a continuous period of 12 months. If you have taken out supplementary insurance, it must have been in effect continuously for 12 months before you become unemployed. 

    If you become unemployed
    If you receive compensation from the Swedish unemployment benefit fund (a-kassa), you may be entitled to compensation from the insurance. The compensation is paid in arrears and is not taxable.

Who is covered?

To be covered by the insurance, you must have been a member of the association and of a-kassa for the last 12 months before you became unemployed. During the qualification period, you must not have been unemployed.

If you become unemployed

If you receive compensation from a-kassa, you may be entitled to compensation from the insurance. The compensation is paid in arrears and is not taxable.

What does the supplementary insurance cost?

The premium for the supplementary insurance depends on your monthly salary. The maximum insurable salary is SEK 80,000 per month. To see what it costs and buy the supplement, go to “See your price and buy” at the top.

A new service is available for SULF members receiving compensation from income protection insurance – career coaching. Folksam offers this service in collaboration with AS3, a Nordic career advisory company. You will be provided with the tools to prepare you for your future working life.

Career coaching gives you professional and personal help from certified coaches with extensive experience. You will be given practical tools and help to get back into the labour market.

Start with Career Coaching

Email: ul@as3.se

Product sheet - Career Coaching

Read more at AS3

The insurance applies to you in your capacity as a member of your trade union. To be covered by the income insurance, you must have been a member of your union for at least 12 months. You must also be a member of an unemployment insurance fund (a-kassa) under the supervision of the Swedish Unemployment Insurance Inspectorate.

Apply for compensation from the insurance by reporting unemployment.

In order to be covered by the insurance, you must have been a continuous member of the current union or another union with mandatory income insurance for the last twelve months before the onset of unemployment. The onset of unemployment refers to the date when you have your first qualifying day for unemployment benefits.

The compensation corresponds to up to 80 per cent of your qualifying income that exceeds the income ceiling applied by the unemployment insurance fund, currently SEK 33,000 per month for the first 150 days of compensation.

A flat-rate deduction is then made corresponding to tax. If you receive other income-related compensation, this may reduce the amount of compensation you receive from the insurance.

No, as far as the insurance is concerned, you do not need to report anything in advance. In the event of unemployment, you should apply for compensation here on the website. However, in order to help avoid any discussion about the amount of compensation you receive, it is of course important to always ensure that you pay your union dues based on your actual income. You can contact your union to check this.

If you are covered by the insurance and have become unemployed when in receipt of a qualifying income exceeding SEK 33,000 per month, you can receive compensation from the insurance. You must be entitled to income-related unemployment benefits from A-kassa for the period in question.

It is the Unemployment Insurance Act (ALF) that states that the qualifying income must be higher than SEK 33,000 per month in order for you to receive compensation from the insurance.

No, compensation from the insurance is tax-free and so tax is not paid on it.

As soon as your union has signed a group agreement with Folksam and you have been granted membership of the union. In order to receive compensation from the income insurance, you must have been a union member for at least 12 months.

The insurance expires on the first day of the month in which you turn 65 years of age. The insurance ceases to be valid prior to this if the group agreement expires or you leave the union.

No. This has no effect, provided you still belong to the group eligible for insurance. If you change jobs and move to another industry and subsequently join another union and unemployment insurance fund, eligibility will depend on the rules and membership benefits of the new union.

By law, you cannot receive as much in unemployment benefits as in salary; the maximum is 80 per cent.

Qualifying for benefits

In order to receive benefits from your income protection insurance, you must meet these criteria:
  • You must have been a member of the union for at least twelve months before the date you became unemployed
  • You must be entitled to benefits from the Akademikernas a-kassa, AEA

What to do

Benefits from AEA
Submit your application together with a copy of the decision letter and the first payment slip from AEA, to the address below.

Benefits from the Social Insurance Agency (Activity Support)
Submit your application together with a copy of the decision letter from the AEA, a copy of the decision/instruction from the Employment Service and the first payment notice from the Social Insurance Agency, to the address below.

Good to know

If you have taken out income protection insurance with another union, the period you have been with them will be counted for your qualifying period. Student membership is counted as qualifying period but does not entitle you to benefits from income insurance.

The right to benefits from income protection insurance expires at the end of the month before the month you reach the age of 65.

Terms and conditions of insurance

Below you can download complete terms and conditions and your latest insurance certificate. This will provide you with the details of what applies to your insurance.

Insurance certificate (English)