These are the months you have to contribute to collect unemployment (up to two years)

The contributory unemployment benefit, better known as unemployment, is key for workers who lose their jobs, since it covers them financially. With the collection of this benefit, it is as important to know the amount of unemployment as the time during which it can be collected.

This is one of the most repeated questions by citizens when they find themselves without work or are entitled to unemployment. Collecting the benefit for a few months guarantees them that economic coverage, but having that security cushion for a significant time is key when looking for a new job with some peace of mind, so taking into account what the duration of the unemployment depends on is very useful.

The State Public Employment Service (SEPE) has explained that the duration of unemployment “is calculated taking into account the time of employment quoted for unemployment during the six years prior to the legal situation of unemployment.”

First of all, the minimum contribution period needed to be able to collect unemployment is 360 days. From this figure, as the days worked increase, the period of time in which unemployment will be collected also increases. These figures are collected in:

-From 360 to 539 days of unemployment contributions give the right to 120 days of benefit, the minimum period.

-From 540 to 719 days of unemployment contributions give the right to 180 days of benefit.

-From 720 to 899 days of unemployment contributions give the right to 240 days of contributions.

-From 900 to 1,079 days of unemployment contributions give the right to 300 days of benefit.

-From 1,080 to 1,259 days of contribution give the right to 360 days of benefit.

-From 1,260 to 1,439 days of unemployment contributions give the right to 420 days of benefit.

-From 1,440 to 1,619 days of unemployment contributions give the right to 480 days of benefit.

-From 1,620 to 1,799 days of unemployment contributions give the right to 540 days of benefit.

-From 1,800 to 1,979 days of unemployment contributions give the right to 600 days of benefit.

-From 1,980 to 2,159 days of unemployment contributions give the right to 660 days of benefit.

-With 2,160 days of unemployment contributions, unemployment can be collected for the maximum possible time: 720 days.

How much money is collected with unemployment?

During all this time, the worker will be entitled to amounts that are also predetermined: during the first six months they are entitled to 70% of the worker’s regulatory base, while from then on 50% of the regulatory base is charged. .

But, what is the regulatory base of the worker for the purposes of unemployment? The SEPE explains that the average of the contribution bases for professional contingencies of the 180 days prior to the legal situation of unemployment is taken into account. In this calculation, however, overtime does not count.