Firstly, you are not alone. Norway now has the highest unemployment rate since World War II.
And luckily for you, the Norwegian government has changed its unemployment regulation so that those temporarily or permanently laid off will receive better benefits faster than normal.
If you are temporarily laid off, the government will give you your full salary up to a maximum of nearly 600,000 Norwegian kroner a year (six times basic income), from the 3rd day of your suspension until the 20th day, which will hopefully cover much of the coronavirus lockdown.
This applies from March 20, but Nav only expects to be able to start making payments this week at the earliest.
The Norwegian government will begin paying your salary from the second day that your job is suspended, rather than the 15th day, as is normally the case.
If your hours are reduced, you will start receiving benefit as soon as they are reduced by 40 percent, whereas in normal times the threshold would be 50 percent.
If you are permanently laid off, you will be entitled to 80 percent of your previous wage up to about 300,000 kroner, and then 62.4 percent of what you previously earned up to 600,000 kroner.
This is pretty generous.
If you still live in Norway and have been permanently laid off:
Register as unemployed with the Norwegian Welfare Administration (Nav).
You should apply to Nav as soon as possible. You either apply here with a bankID, Buypass or Commfides, or ring this number +47 5555 3333. Nav has produced a guide in English here.
If you still live in Norway and have been temporarily laid off or had your hours reduced by 40 percent or more:
You should also apply to Nav as soon as possible. You either apply here with a bankID, Buypass or Commfides, or ring this number +47 5555 3333.
Even if you are still waiting for a reply from Nav, you must send a 'report card' updating your situation every 14 days by filling in this form.
You should also register your CV with Nav here, and make sure the correct account number is registered with Nav.
If you worked in Norway but travelled back to another EEA country weekly or more:
Some British workers in the Norwegian oil industry return back to their home country weekly or more, qualifying as “cross-border workers”. There are also people who live in Sweden, Finland or Denmark who work across the border in Norway.
If you have your hours reduced, you are temporarily laid off or your employer is bankrupt, you must apply for unemployment benefits from Norway (see above).
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