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.