Control of benefit access and sojourn time

In Sweden there is not a strict access control to benefit claim but a particularly strict control of sojourn time. Apart from reduction of benefits, the means is the reasonableness of work being offered. The modest protection of previous profession when choosing work opportunities was abandoned recently in favour of an every work is reasonable concept. Under previous law, the unemployed were allowed to restrict the search for work to their former profession and habitual surroundings for the first hundred days of unemployment. 

In Denmark access to the system of unemployment benefits is only granted if unemployment had occurred through no fault of one s own. In addition, the carousel effect has been ceased. Formerly, new entitlements were acquired when participating in labour market programmes. Now, the restriction to regular work as the only activity to renew entitlements has the effect of an access control. The strict link to a participation in labour market measures after 2 years of drawing benefits at the latest is also a control of sojourn in the system. 

In France, activation is achieved by means of a strict control of access to social security. Here, it has to be distinguished between non-contributoiy systems for the needy and contributory insurance systems, i.e. the insurances branches which attribute social benefits on the basis of former payment of social contributions. But job seekers who are not entitled to such social benefits may have access to activation measures with the objective to get a job, especially by special contracts, i.e. contrats aides.  

Recently, according to the principle of flexibility or differentiation, the idea of activating requirements for access and entitlement in the field of unemployment insurance has been established in the Netherlands. Differentiated requirements for access and a graduated reduction of benefits shall urge the persons concerned to intensify their efforts to get into work. Differentiated graduations are also found in 

In Swiss unemployment insurance, the benefit rate was reduced from 80 to 70% of the insured income. In addition, the term reasonable employment was tightened. Adaptations also happened in social assistance law. Under certain conditions the replacement rate in force before 2005 may be granted. This is dependent on the participation in labour market programmes. 

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