Employees who lose their jobs involuntarily may qualify for financial support or subsidies through the State Employment Public Service, commonly known as SEPE, based on their individual circumstances. To receive and keep these benefits, individuals must meet certain requirements and show proactive job-seeking efforts, including accepting suitable job offers and participating in training aligned with their skills.
A person who is currently unemployed and has dependents bears responsibilities that must be considered before declining a job offer or missing an interview or training organized by SEPE. SEPE has the authority to withdraw or reduce subsidies, regardless of whether there are children involved.
They can withdraw benefits regardless of whether dependents exist
Is claiming to have dependents a valid justification for not fulfilling work-related duties while receiving unemployment benefits? On the official SEPE site, having underage children is not a valid excuse to refuse job offers or training opportunities.
New SEPE guidance highlights potential impacts for individuals in certain age groups who are receiving unemployment benefits and have dependent children.
Those receiving unemployment benefits who turn down a job offer that matches their experience and skills without a justified reason may face sanctions. These can range from temporary suspension to the permanent loss of subsidy.
In practice, the severity of the sanction depends on the seriousness and repetition of the noncompliance. For example, minor lapses such as missing a renewal for the unemployment request or failing to appear before SEPE when called could lead to a one-month subsidy suspension. More serious situations, such as repeatedly turning down suitable offers or neglecting required trainings, may result in longer suspensions. In cases of severe misconduct, such as rejecting multiple qualifying offers or providing false information to obtain the subsidy, loss of support could be permanent.
Updates to SEPE support: what changes mean for families
SEPE explains that in a shared household, only the partner’s child who lives in the home and meets specific conditions related to age and economic dependence will be considered a dependent for family responsibilities. In cases of cohabitation without marriage, a couple’s children are not automatically treated as dependents for the aid assessment, and their income may not be factored into the household’s economic situation.
For this reason, unemployed individuals with dependent children should be aware of these rules and fulfill their responsibilities to avoid jeopardizing the aid. It remains important to participate in activities that enhance the chances of rejoining the labor market and achieving long-term stability.