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Unemployment benefit

Prestación por desempleo

What it is

The contributory benefit (paro) protects those who lose their job temporarily or permanently or whose working hours are temporarily reduced by between 10 % and 70 %. You must have paid unemployment contributions for at least 360 days in the previous 6 years, be legally unemployed, be registered as a job seeker and not have reached the ordinary retirement age; foreign nationals must live legally in Spain. You receive 70 % of the regulatory base for the first 180 days and 60 % afterwards, with minimum and maximum limits. The application is filed within fifteen working days after your last day of work, on the SEPE online portal, at the benefits office with an appointment, at a public registry or by administrative post. If you are not entitled to the contributory benefit or have used it up, the SEPE provides information on unemployment allowances.

Official wording
La solicitud deberás presentarla en el plazo de los quince días hábiles siguientes al último día trabajado, al retorno del extranjero o a la excarcelación.

Official sources

Where it applies
All of Spain

Official information

Official sources

When

You must register as a job seeker and apply within 15 working days after your last day of work. If the company paid untaken holidays, the period starts when the equivalent holiday period ends. If you challenged the dismissal and did not apply in time, there is a new 15-day period from the conciliation record or court decision.

Official wording
En el supuesto de que la empresa te haya abonado vacaciones por no haberlas disfrutado con anterioridad a la finalización de la relación laboral, que han de constar en el certificado de empresa, debes presentarla en los 15 días hábiles siguientes a la finalización del período equivalente a las vacaciones.

Official sources

Steps

  1. Step 1: Check the requirements

    Be affiliated and registered (or in an equivalent situation) in a scheme covering unemployment; be legally unemployed and available to look for work and accept suitable employment; be registered as a job seeker throughout; have paid unemployment contributions for at least 360 days in the previous 6 years; not have reached ordinary retirement age. Foreign nationals must reside legally in Spain.

    Official wording
    Haber trabajado y cotizado a desempleo al menos 360 días dentro de los 6 años anteriores a la situación legal de desempleo o al momento en que cesó la obligación de cotizar

    Official sources

  2. Step 2: Register as a job seeker

    Before applying you must register as a job seeker (see the job-seeker registration procedure for each city).

    Official wording
    Para poder acceder a una prestación contributiva por desempleo por haber trabajado un año o más, deberás inscribirte como demandante de empleo y presentar la documentación que se indica a continuación.

    Official sources

  3. Step 3: Apply to the SEPE

    The application is filed on the SEPE e-office, at the benefits office by appointment (online or by phone), at any public registry office or by administrative mail. The official form includes the activity agreement.

    Official wording
    En la oficina de prestaciones (oficina de empleo en el caso de Ceuta y Melilla) pidiendo cita previa en la Sede Electrónica del SEPE o a través del teléfono.

    Official sources

  4. Step 4: Decision and payment

    The SEPE must decide within 15 days of the application and notify within 10 days. Benefit starts the day after becoming legally unemployed if you applied on time. It is paid in 30-day monthly instalments, between the 10th and 15th of the following month, into a bank account in your name. Social Security contributions and, where applicable, income tax withholding are deducted.

    Official wording
    El pago de la prestación se realizará por mensualidades de 30 días, entre los días 10 y 15 del mes inmediato siguiente al que corresponda el devengo.

    Official sources

Documents

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🖨 Printable bilingual document card (you can show it at the counter)

Fees

There is no fee. The benefit is 70 % of the regulatory base for the first 180 days and 60 % from day 181, within the legal maximum and minimum (which depend on whether you have dependent children).

Official wording
El importe diario que se percibe es el 70 % de la base reguladora durante los primeros 180 días de prestación y el 60 % a partir del día 181 hasta el final de la misma.

Official sources

FAQ

How long will I receive it?

It depends on contributions in the previous 6 years: 360-539 days contributed gives 120 days of benefit; 540-719, 180; 720-899, 240; and so on up to 720 days of benefit from 2,160 days contributed.

Official wording
La duración de la prestación depende del periodo de cotización efectiva durante los seis años anteriores a la situación legal de desempleo o al momento en que haya cesado la obligación de cotizar, o del inicio del derecho a la prestación por desempleo anterior, de acuerdo con la siguiente escala:

Official sources

Related procedures

Terms used on this page