I have been reading about the new rules regarding the unemployment benefits and non-EU citizens, and I was whether it would make sense for me to join an A-kasse: I am a non-EU citizen who will soon take up work at DTU for a postdoc (2-year position). I have been living in Switzerland for the last 6.5 years (1.5 during my master’s and 5 during my PhD with full-time employment), which means that likely I will comply with the 7-year rule by the end of my appointment at DTU. This is, if Switzerland-which strictly speaking is a member of EFTA but not of the EEA-is accepted within the rule, so that’s the first question. :)
Then, I received a fast-track work permit (under the researcher track) which allows for 6 months after the end/loss of employment to find a new job, if I am not mistaken. Is one allowed to claim unemployment benefits during this period? It’s a bit confusing because that job-seeking permit is not really a work permit (which needs to be applied for again), so I do not know if the new rules then exclude the possibility of receiving benefits during job-seeking following the original employment.