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Unemployment benefit when you lose your job or are laid off

unemployment benefit unemployed laid off lost job jobless

Translated: translated from the Norwegian original with the help of a language model, and may contain errors. The Norwegian version is the authoritative one. See the Norwegian original →

Unemployment benefit (dagpenger) is financial support you can get when you are unemployed or temporarily laid off.

Norwegian original last checked against official sources: 21 September 2026. Rules and figures change, so always check the official site before you act.

Unemployment benefit is financial support you can get when you are unemployed or temporarily laid off.

Who can get unemployment benefit?

According to NAV, you must, among other things:

• have lost at least half of your working hours,
• have had a certain income: at least 1.5 times the National Insurance basic amount over the last 12 months, or at least 3 times the basic amount in total over the last 36 months. The basic amount (G) is adjusted every 1 May, and NAV stated on 21 September 2026 the requirements as 204,824 and 409,647 kroner respectively,
• be under 67, a member of the National Insurance Scheme, and residing in Norway,
• be registered as a jobseeker.

How much and for how long?

• You get 62.4 percent of previous income. Income above 6 G is not counted. There is a child supplement per child under 18.
• The duration is 104 weeks if your income was at least 2 G, and 52 weeks if it was lower.
• The first three days of unemployment benefit are usually not covered (a waiting period).

How to apply

Register as a jobseeker no later than your first day of being fully or partially unemployed. You can apply for unemployment benefit up to 14 days before you become unemployed. If you apply much earlier, the application may be refused as too early. Have your employment contract, notice of termination or layoff notice, and income information ready.

NAV stated on 21 September 2026 a processing time of 7 weeks. You get a text message when the decision is ready. If approved, you get back payment from the point you had the right.

What is expected of you?

• Send a status report form every 14 days, for the whole period. A missing form can lead to a stop or deduction.
• Apply for jobs, attend interviews and respond to messages from NAV.

If you are refused

You can complain within the deadline stated in the decision. Read Complain about a NAV decision.

NAV's page on unemployment benefit (Norwegian) →

Sources

• NAV. Unemployment benefit (Norwegian)
• NAV. Register as a jobseeker (Norwegian)

Kontaktpunkt24 gives general information, not legal advice. If you need help with your own case, contact a lawyer, a legal aid service, or the relevant authority.

This page is translated from Norwegian with the help of a language model, and may contain errors. The Norwegian version is always the authoritative one.