How long will I receive unemployment benefits?
Framework period
The unemployment law determines the maximum period for which an unemployed person may receive unemployment benefits: 2 years. These 2 years are called the «framework period for receiving benefits» («Rahmenfrist» in German). The period runs from the day you meet all the eligibility requirements.
If you become unemployed after reaching the age of 61, this framework period doubles to 4 years.
The amount of your unemployment benefits depends on your insured earnings. You can find out more under «How much money will I receive?».
Number of daily allowances
The number of daily allowances you are entitled to during the framework period is not fixed.
The maximum number of daily allowances depends on the length of the contribution period, age, and personal circumstances.
| ALV contributions paid | Personal circumstances | Maximum number of daily allowances |
|---|---|---|
| 12 – 24 months | under 25 years old | 200 |
| 12 – 17 months | over 25 years of age or maintenance obligation | 260 (1) |
| 18 – 24 months | over 25 years of age or maintenance obligation | 400 (1) |
| 22 – 24 months | over 55 years of age or recipients of a disability pension with an IV degree of 40% or more | 520 |
| Exempt from contributions (2) | 90 |
(1) 120 additional daily allowances if unemployment occurs in the last 4 years before AHV retirement age.
(2) Those who were unable to work for 12 months due to education, maternity leave, or illness are exempt from the ALV contribution period. You can read about all the grounds for exemption in detail here.
