Studies and unemployment benefits

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Unemployment fund membership

By joining the unemployment fund, you can begin accumulating the right to the earnings-related allowance before you graduate. By doing this, you can receive your earning allowance if you do not get a job immediately after graduation.

To receive earnings-related unemployment allowance, 12 months of work is required, but the work does not need to be continuous. If you are studying, you can accumulate working weeks over a period of up to 9 years, for example through summer jobs. The work requirement is fulfilled in months where you earn at least 930 euros in salary. A half month can be counted if you earn at least 465 euros. Additionally, you must be a member of an unemployment fund during the time you are working.

Graduation

Register as a job-seeker as soon as you receive a diploma or a provisional certificate. Earnings-related allowance may be paid upon graduation if you are registered as a job-seeker at the TE Office.

You may also be eligible to receive the earnings-related allowance if you have not yet graduated, but no longer have the right to study at the educational establishment or the studies have been interrupted for at least one year. In these situations, you should also register at the TE Office and ask the TE Office about the impact of your studies.

 

Receiving unemployment benefit as a student

You can complete small-scale or short-term studies while in receipt of unemployment benefits. If your studies are more extensive, you should transfer onto a study grant (unless such studies consist of employability training or so-called and self-directed studies).

If your studies have been interrupted and you think that graduation or the completion of another educational qualification would improve your employment prospects, ask the TE-Office about self-directed studies. Should the TE Office approve payment of unemployment benefits for the duration of a period of self-directed study, the unemployment benefits can be paid for a maximum of 2 years. You may also receive an increased earnings-related allowance during your self-study period.