The government approved the unemployment benefit reform in the Council of Ministers. A change committed to the European Union that aims to simplify and expand the scope of this benefit for people who are unemployed and have already exhausted their regular contribution benefits. The reform will allow for the addition of up to 400,000 potential new beneficiaries to the Sepe protection network; These will mostly include children under 45 without family responsibilities and seasonal workers in rural areas. It will also temporarily improve subsidy amounts and eliminate bureaucratic obstacles to accessing subsidies.
What is unemployment benefit?
a subsidy unemployment It is an income provided by. State Employment Public Service (SEPE) to people who are unemployed and do not have the right to collect contribution margin. This is what is known as the right to welfare, which does not depend on a person’s previous contribution. nailbut this is a subjective right granted by your status as a citizen.
Before the current reform there were four types:
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Unemployment benefit
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Allowance for people over 52 years of age
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Active insertion income (RAI)
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agricultural subsidy
HE unemployment benefit This is assistance given to people who have exhausted the amount of contributions they were previously obliged to contribute but have not yet found a new job. Or those who didn’t contribute long enough to receive unemployment benefits at their previous jobs. And it is very important to have family responsibilities. The maximum duration of this income is 30 months and the current amount is 480 euros (80%) IPREM).
Subsidy over 52 years old It’s like unemployment but limited to that age group. Beneficiaries must also not be eligible to participate in unemployment benefits because they have paid unemployment contributions for at least 90 to 359 days.
RAI It is an aid provided to people who have exhausted their contribution payments and are not entitled to receive aid. A common situation is being under 45 and/or not having family responsibilities. It is charged for a maximum of 11 months and its current amount is 480 Euros (80% IPREM).
HE agricultural subsidy It is an aid provided to seasonal workers residing in rural areas. Andalusia anyone Estremadura. An essential requirement is that you have received this benefit in one of the three years preceding your application date and have contributed at least 35 days in the twelve calendar months immediately preceding your unemployment. Approximately 80,000 people currently receive this assistance.
How are subsidies changing, which are being removed, which are being included?
The government reform divides existing subsidies into four: the ordinary subsidy for exhaustion, the ordinary subsidy for incapacity, the subsidy for those over 52 and the agricultural subsidy.
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HE exhaustion allowance It will be a program accessible to everyone who consumes co-payment aid. Anyone under 52 can claim this, but there will be conditions depending on their age. Depending on whether the person has family responsibilities or not, the minimum duration will be six months and the maximum duration will be 30 months.
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HE deficiency allowance This will be a scheme accessible to all persons who do not contribute enough to access a co-payment-based benefit. Its duration will depend on the months contributed; If you contributed for 3, 4 or 5 months, it will take 3, 4 or 5 months respectively. Additionally, if the contributions are for 6 months or longer but do not reach 12 months, this period will be extended to 21 months.
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Subsidy over 52 years old It preserves almost all its features. Its main difference from the ordinary one is that there is no reduction in its amount and it is always 80% of the IPREM, that is, 480 euros.
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HE agricultural subsidy It will cover all seasonal workers across Spain and extend this beyond Andalusia and Extremadura.
Who can collect these?
The main innovation brought by the subsidy reform approved by the government is the expansion of rights for hitherto not covered groups. On the one hand, under 45on the other hand, seasonal workers from rural areas living in regions outside Andalusia or Extremadura.
Now those under 45 no family responsibilities They can claim unemployment benefits provided that they have previously exhausted their contribution amount. 360 days period (year). If they have not made these contributions before, they will not be able to claim the subsidy. Those who prove that their contribution period is shorter six month even if they lack family responsibilities.
All seasonal workers working in rural areas will now be able to receive the subsidy as long as they meet the conditions set out in the law, regardless of whether they reside in Andalusia, Catalonia, the Canary Islands or any of the 17 autonomous regions.
How much is charged?
So far the amount of the subsidy has been equivalent to: 80% of IPREM. what they are now 480 euros. Now the Government initially increases the amount and reduces it as time passes. The amounts are as follows:
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0 to 6 months: 570 Euro or 95% of IPREM
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6 to 12 months: 540 Euro or 90% of IPREM
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From 12 months: 480 Euro or 80% of IPREM
It should be noted that IPREM is a reference that the Government reviews periodically and will probably re-evaluate by 2024. This will increase the amount of both contributory and non-contributory benefits.
When is the subsidy collected?
Another innovation included in the reform is eliminates months of waiting Hitherto any subsidy had to be collected. According to the new rule, an unemployed person will be able to receive assistance starting from the month in which this right is granted. Potential delays may arise from problems with previous appointments, or if the recognition of the right occurs at the end of the month, which may mean that Sepe has already made payments in the following month, but always pays the arrears recognized.
Subsidies are usually paid at the end of each month, and the specific day depends on the beneficiary’s bank.
How long is a fee charged?
How long the subsidy will be collected will depend on each unemployed person’s personal situation. The maximum collection time remains as follows: 30 months.
Is it compatible with a job?
Yes, another of the fundamental innovations of the reform is that make compatible Collecting aid along with the salary if the unemployed person finds a job. The idea is to eliminate beneficiaries’ fear of accepting a job offer; because if the job is not successful or is a very short-term temporary job, the unemployed person will lose the subsidy and the salary will not last long. You will now be able to combine both incomes 100% for the first 180 days (6 months).
When do the changes come into force?
The government has not yet stated when all these changes will come into force. The Ministry of Labor announced that “The rights temporarily granted by previous regulations will be protected until they disappear.”