Beneficiaries and Conditions for Entitlement
Unemployment benefits
Unemployment benefits are the economic earnings to which salaried workers are
entitled if they lose their job wholly or partially and they find themselves in
the legal position of unemployment.
In Spain, workers (except civil servants) who carry out a self-employed activity
have compulsory insurance and cover in the event of job loss. The contributions
for such cover are borne by employers, workers and the State. The body charged
with managing and controlling unemployment services is the INEM.
The Spanish unemployment benefits system has two levels of cover:
- Contribution-level benefits
- Assistance-level benefits
Beneficiaries and Award Conditions
Contribution-Level Benefits: All self-employed workers who have periods paid to the social
security system
and lose their job wholly or partially for reasons beyond their control have the
right to received unemployment benefit at the contribution level.
Conditions:
- To have the legal status of being unemployed
- To be registered at the employment office closest to your place of residence
- To certify having paid a minimum period of 12 months (360 days) to Social
Security
- To make a formal application for benefits at the employment office within a
maximum period of 15 days from the loss of the job
- To sign a job agreement with the office on activities for seeking another job
The time that can be covered by a contribution benefit depends on the periods
paid to Social Security. The minimum duration is four months for a payment
period of 12 months and the maximum is 24 months for a period of six years or
more.
The amount also varies depending on the unemployment contribution basis that
each worker has on his payslips and number of children. In each case, the
monthly amount must not be less than 75 percent + 1/6 of the minimum wage, nor
greater than 220 percent + 1/6 of the same. In general, workers receive 70
percent of their basic salary for the first six months, and 60 percent for the
rest of the time covered by the benefit. The minimum wage is a parameter fixed
each year by the government.
Once the right has been recognised by the competent body, the INEM,
unemployment benefit is paid monthly into a bank assigned by the employment
office or paid into an account designated by the worker in the application. In
the first month there is a retention of 10 days, which is paid in the last
payment.
Assistance-Level Benefits
Workers with the legal status of being unemployed and who have registered at
the employment office, and who do not have the right to contribution benefits or
have run out of them may apply for assistance benefits for unemployment, if they
meet the conditions laid down by certain collectives:
- They have used up their contribution benefits and have family
responsibilities
- They are over 45 years old and have used up the contribution benefit they have
received for at least 12 months
- Spanish emigrant workers who return from any country not belonging to the EEA
- Workers who, at the time of becoming legally unemployed, do not have a
sufficient payment period to Social Security in order to apply for a
contribution benefit
The amount of assistance aid is equivalent to 75 percent of the minimum wage
and the duration is generally six months, which may be extended.
To keep the right to benefit cover, either assistance-level or
contribution-level, you must go to your employment office at least once every
three months.
Text last edited on: 06/2005
Source: European Union
© European Communities
Reproduction is authorised.
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