Protects the situation of those who are able to work and wish to work if they
lose their job temporarily or permanently or if their working hours are reduced
by at least one third with the corresponding loss or reduction in salary for at
least one of the reasons laid down as legal unemployment situations. Name:
Unemployment benefit.
Beneficiaries
Self-employed and other collective workers, provided they are in one of the
legally-established unemployment situations, have paid contributions for the
minimum period required (2360 days in the last six year) and are not in any of
the incompatibility situations established by the law.
Two Levels of protection
Contribution benefit for total or partial unemployment: The amount depends on
the contributions paid to Social Security for this purpose over the last 180
days (70% in the first six months, 60% for the remainder, with maximum and
minimum payment limits). The duration depends on the contribution period. The
minimum contribution period required of 12 months entitles workers to receive 4
months of unemployment benefit. The maximum period of payment for unemployment
benefit is 24 months.
- Unemployment subsidy: Workers who are subject to a set of special
circumstances and fall into the correct social security category are
entitled to the unemployment subsidy.
- Other aid: The job seeker’s allowance: for unemployed workers who
cannot obtain any of the above benefits. They must comply with a set of
requirements relating to age and period of unemployment and undergo an
individual job seeking programme.
To obtain the unemployment benefit, you need to go to the Employment Office
when you leave your job (except in the case of voluntary resignation). You need
to register as unemployed and apply for unemployment benefit. Registration is
carried out by regional Public Employment Services and the state Public
Employment Service is responsible for calculating and paying the benefit.
Everything is done in the same employment office. The term for registering
and applying for the benefit is 15 days and you need to take the following
documents: application, identity document, family allowance book (if you have
dependent children) company certificates and official contribution documents for
the last 180 days if the company is not linked to the electronic network.
Unemployment benefit is paid monthly at your nominated bank on the 10th day of
each month and you can have the money paid directly into your account.
Employment offices open in the mornings from Monday to Friday.
Last updated: 08/08
Source: European Union
© European Communities
Reproduction is authorised.
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