Unemployment - Unemployment benefit for persons who accumulated a short work period

Beginning in June 2009, unemployed persons who have accumulated a qualifying (work) period which is shorter than the one defined in the law may receive an unemployment benefit for half the period to which they would have been entitled had they accumulated the full qualifying period:

  A monthly worker – if he worked for at least 9 full work months out of the 18 months that preceded the beginning of his unemployment period;
  A daily or hourly worker – if he worked for at least 194 work days out of the 18 months that preceded the beginning of his unemployment period.

These special conditions of entitlement will not apply to: 

 Persons under age 25;
 Persons who ceased working voluntarily and without justification;
 Persons who reported to the Employment Service and refused to accept work suitable to their health condition and physical fitness.

A person who considers himself entitled to unemployment benefit according to the above conditions and the other conditions of entitlement to this benefit, stipulated in conditions of entitlement  and in who is insured, should register as a job seeker in the Employment Service Bureau and submit a claim form for unemployment benefit to the NII local branch closest to his place of residence.

A person whose claim for unemployment benefit for an unemployment period before June 2009 has been denied by the NII due to his not having accumulated the required work period, may submit an additional claim if he reports to the Employment Service Bureau in June 2009 and thereafter, and his claim will be examined on the basis of the special conditions of entitlement.