Unemployment benefits
An employee who is unemployed, has registered as unemployed with the Federal Employment Agency and has completed the qualifying period is entitled to unemployment benefits. The qualifying period is completed, if at least 12 months of employment subject to compulsory insurance have been completed within the last two years.
Registration as seeking employment is required in person at the employment agency at least three months prior to the end of the current employment or training. If the termination of the employment or training becomes known only at a later date, the registration has to be made within the first three days after that date.
The duration of unemployment benefit payments depends on the number of compulsory insured periods within the last five years (e.g. employment, receipt of sickness benefits, etc.) and on the age of the unemployed. The amount of the unemployment benefit depends on the income from the last employment, the number of own children and the income tax group.
Periods of exclusion from benefits are imposed in case of unfounded behaviour impairing the interests of the insurance, e.g.:
- quitting employment,
- rejection of employment,
- insufficient own efforts,
- rejection of participation in a vocational integration measure,
- failing to complete a vocational integration measure,
- failing to report in time, or
- delayed registration as seeking employment.
