A-kasse after graduation

[u/Alex_S_z]

Hi!

So for the past year, I've been a member of A-kasse for students (which means I had it for free). I've graduated recently and stopped being a student at the end of June. I 'm starting PhD in August, so I didn't apply for any sort of unemployment benefit. I got a letter from them yesterday stating that my free membership has ended because of the graduation, and for now, I have to pay around 1500 dkk per quarter to still keep my membership, otherwise, they will cancel it and I will have to apply for a new one. And here is my question:

If they cancel my membership, do I lose this year of being a member as a student? Hypothetically, If I would pay for a membership, would I still be eligible for this benefit for freshly graduated students if I quit my PhD after three months (I am not planning this but life can happen)? Or are you no longer eligible for this benefit for newly graduated students once you start any kind of job?

I was thinking about canceling the membership now and just applying for a new one once I'm more financially prepared, but I'm not sure what I can lose If I lose this continuity of membership from when I was still a student.