How much is dagpenge after tax?

With a typical Danish tax card, 22,041 DKK gross leaves roughly 14,500–15,500 DKK in your account. That is an illustrative example only — your own figure depends on your municipality, tax card and deductions.

How long can I receive dagpenge?

Up to 104 weeks (two years) of payment inside a three-year window. Working while insured re-earns entitlement.

Do students and new graduates get dagpenge?

Graduates who join an a-kasse no later than 2 weeks after finishing a programme of at least 18 months can claim fixed graduate rates: 18,074 DKK a month with dependants, or 15,759 DKK for the first three months without dependants and then 13,690 DKK (age 30+) or 10,838 DKK (under 30). Payment normally starts one month after finishing, but that waiting month does not apply if you were an a-kasse member for at least a year before graduating. Graduate benefits run for a maximum of one year within two years, and a Danish-language or work-hours requirement also applies — see borger.dk. Joining early as a student does not change the rate: you get the graduate rate unless you meet the ordinary income requirement plus 12 months of membership.

Is dagpenge paid from the first day of unemployment?

There is no general waiting period, but nothing is paid for days before you register as unemployed on Jobnet.dk. After a dismissal your employer pays the first 2 days of unemployment (G-days), and karens reduces your benefit by one day's payment every 4 months unless you worked at least 148 hours (full-time insured) in that period.

Dagpenge Rate 2026: How Much Unemployment Benefit You Get

Quick answer

The standard maximum rate for full-time insured members is 22,041 DKK a month before tax in 2026 (about 5,085 DKK a week), equal to 90% of your previous salary up to that ceiling. Your own rate depends on your circumstances: part-time insured members get up to 14,694 DKK, members who meet the conditions for the employment supplement (beskæftigelsestillæg) up to 26,198 DKK for the first three months, and recent graduates fixed graduate rates.

Last updated 26 August 2026 · Akasse.io

How the rate is calculated

Your dagpenge is 90% of your average monthly income in the 12 best-paid months within the last 24 months — but never more than the legal maximum. In practice, anyone who earned more than about 24,490 DKK a month before tax lands exactly on the ceiling, which is why most recipients receive the same amount.

Part-time insured members receive two-thirds of the full-time figures. Part-time insurance is only worth choosing if you consistently work under 30 hours a week; otherwise you pay slightly less and lose a third of your protection.

The 2026 numbers

All figures are gross, before AM-bidrag and income tax.

Standard full-time maximum: 22,041 DKK per month / about 5,085 DKK per week
Employment supplement (beskæftigelsestillæg), months 1–3: up to 26,198 DKK per month if you meet the conditions
Part-time maximum: 14,694 DKK per month
Graduate rate with dependants: 18,074 DKK per month
Graduate rate without dependants: 15,759 DKK per month for the first 3 months, then 13,690 DKK (age 30+) or 10,838 DKK (under 30)

What you must have done to get it

Two conditions run in parallel the first time you claim. First, 12 months of unbroken a-kasse membership. Second, an income of 286,632 DKK reported to SKAT within the last three years, with a maximum of 23,886 DKK counted per month (part-time insured: 191,088 DKK and 15,924 DKK). Neither can be bought retroactively.

If you have used up your benefit period, you must re-qualify with 1,924 paid working hours within three years (full-time insured; 1,258 hours part-time).

Tax, pension and the payout calendar

Dagpenge is ordinary taxable income. AM-bidrag is not deducted, but A-tax is, using the tax card you already have. Your municipality does not top it up.

You submit a dagpengekort (benefit card) at the end of every month, declaring hours worked, holidays and sickness. Payment reaches your NemKonto on the last banking day of the month. Miss the card, and payment is delayed until the next cycle.

Things that reduce your payment

Working hours are deducted hour for hour. Holiday pay covering a period you also claim for is offset. Failing to attend a Jobcenter meeting or to keep your joblog updated triggers a sanction, which means losing benefit days. Quitting voluntarily gives you a three-week quarantine.

Questions people also ask

How much is dagpenge after tax?: With a typical Danish tax card, 22,041 DKK gross leaves roughly 14,500–15,500 DKK in your account. That is an illustrative example only — your own figure depends on your municipality, tax card and deductions.
How long can I receive dagpenge?: Up to 104 weeks (two years) of payment inside a three-year window. Working while insured re-earns entitlement.
Do students and new graduates get dagpenge?: Graduates who join an a-kasse no later than 2 weeks after finishing a programme of at least 18 months can claim fixed graduate rates: 18,074 DKK a month with dependants, or 15,759 DKK for the first three months without dependants and then 13,690 DKK (age 30+) or 10,838 DKK (under 30). Payment normally starts one month after finishing, but that waiting month does not apply if you were an a-kasse member for at least a year before graduating. Graduate benefits run for a maximum of one year within two years, and a Danish-language or work-hours requirement also applies — see borger.dk. Joining early as a student does not change the rate: you get the graduate rate unless you meet the ordinary income requirement plus 12 months of membership.
Is dagpenge paid from the first day of unemployment?: There is no general waiting period, but nothing is paid for days before you register as unemployed on Jobnet.dk. After a dismissal your employer pays the first 2 days of unemployment (G-days), and karens reduces your benefit by one day's payment every 4 months unless you worked at least 148 hours (full-time insured) in that period.

Official sources

This guide is kept up to date, but always check the official source for the latest figures and rules.