Exceptions concerning the unemployment security continue until the end of November

Protected portion of unemployment benefit

The increase in the protected portion of unemployment benefit from EUR 300 to EUR 500 per month will continue until 30 November 2021. The protected portion is the maximum sum that a jobseeker may earn without losing unemployment benefit.

Mobility allowance

Temporary relief in the mobility allowance will also continue until the end of November. A mobility allowance may be paid to a claimant eligible for unemployment benefit who accepts an offer of work at a location far from home or moves a similar distance for work. Payment of such allowances during the coronavirus epidemic required a daily commute of more than two hours for full-time work, instead of the previous three-hour minimum.

Payment of unemployment benefit

Measures facilitating the payment of unemployment benefit will also continue until the end of November 2021. The unemployment fund or Kela may pay part of the unemployment benefit in advance for up to six months before issuing a formal decision on the claim. Such advances were previously only payable for two months. Unemployment benefit must nevertheless still be claimed for each period of joblessness.

Calculation of adjusted unemployment benefit

Measures facilitating the calculation of adjusted unemployment benefit will also continue until 30 November 2021. No special adjustment period or related imputed income will be applied in this adjustment.

Extended access to unemployment benefit for the self-employed

Extended access to unemployment benefit for the self-employed will continue until the end of November 2021. These workers may seek labour market support from Kela without having to stop trading if they are unable to work full-time, or if their livelihood is reduced due to the coronavirus epidemic. Labour market support concerns all entrepreneurs regardless of whether they engage in business as self-employed persons or in the form of a company.

See also our information package on the effects of the coronavirus epidemic on the world of work.