Subsidies for the Unemployed
Fræðagarður supports members who are unemployed and choose to pay membership fees from unemployment benefits to the association. Unemployed members also have access to BHM funds if a membership fee is paid from unemployment benefits to Fræðagarður.
Fræðagarður's Subsidy
Unemployed members who pay contributions to Fræðagarður from unemployment benefits can apply for a subsidy of up to ISK 100,000 per year to attend continuing education or self-improvement of their choice. Fræðagarður's office receives applications and processes them, but you can apply by submitting an enquiry through Fræðagarður's website. Please note that subsidy payments are paid directly to the implementing body.
Rights of the Unemployed in BHM Funds
Unemployed individuals retain rights in the fund for one year directly following full fund membership. This applies if the benefit period begins or expenses occur within a year from the start of unemployment, provided that from the beginning membership fees are paid from unemployment benefits to the relevant trade union. Unions are allowed to extend this period, as long as the fund member receives unemployment benefit payments from Atvinnuleysistryggingasjóður (the Unemployment Insurance Fund), since they are responsible for paying a 1.0% premium of unemployment benefits to the fund from the beginning of the unemployment period. Unions must notify the fund that they intend to use this authorization and for how long. If an unemployed person does not have a fund membership, they can become a member and acquire rights in the fund if they pay a membership fee from unemployment benefits to the relevant trade union, which is responsible for paying a 1.0% premium from unemployment benefits to the fund. Rights are then acquired in the same way as others are acquired according to the fund’s regulations. Unions must notify the fund if they intend to use this authority.
See more about the Sickness Fund.
Individuals with full rights at the start of unemployment retain their rights for one year, as long as the benefit period begins or expenses are incurred within a year from the start of unemployment. The condition is that the trade union fee is paid to the relevant trade union. Unions are permitted to extend this period, as long as the member receives payments from Vinnumálastofnun – Directorate of Labour, as they are responsible for paying a 0.75% premium to the fund from unemployment benefits from the beginning of the unemployment period. The unions must notify the fund for which fund members they are paying for.
See more about the Support Fund.
Unemployed members can pay an annual fee to maintain fund membership and receive 48 points. Confirmation from the Vinnumálastofnun that the member is on the unemployment register must be submitted. To pay the annual fee, you can send an email to sjodir@bhm.is.
See more about the Vacation Fund.
Members who are unemployed can apply for and receive a subsidy from the fund according to the following rules:
a. Conditions
The applicant must have been a member of the fund for at least six months at the start of unemployment, that less than 12 months have passed since the individual lost their job and that the individual has paid membership fees to a trade union from unemployment benefits. Unions are allowed to extend this period for up to three years if they pay a 0.22% premium of unemployment benefits to the fund from the beginning of unemployment.
b. Subsidy Eligibility
A subsidy is applied for continuing education according to what is assessed as eligible for funding for other fund members or a subsidy for a course that is directly related to the unemployment of a fund member.
c. Application Process
The same rules of procedure apply to the form and handling of applications by unemployed persons as apply to fund members and subsidies or grants to them.
See more about the Vocational Training Fund.
In the event of job loss, members retain their rights for up to 12 months. Unions are allowed to extend this period up to 3 years in return for paying a 0.7% premium to STH of unemployment benefits from the beginning of unemployment..
See more about Starfsþróunarsetur háskólamanna.
Fræðagarður Assistance
If you still have questions that have not been answered here above, we encourage you to contact the office of Fræðagarður.
You can send in an enquiry, for example regarding the rights of unemployed members.
You can also create a formal service request that automatically goes into our case file system, for example for complex or sensitive cases.
Finally, you can book a call with a specialist, if you think it is more appropriate.
Fræðagarður service office is located at Borgartún 6 (same building as BHM). It is open every weekday from 9-12 and 13-16. The phone number is 595 5165.