Social Security: Unemployment Insurance

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
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