Unemployment can affect any worker, and in Spain the Public Employment Service known as BASKET plays a key role in supporting people during periods without work.
SEPE, the State Public Employment Service, is the authority in charge of shaping employment policies in Spain. Beyond offering financial aid, it also provides career guidance and training to boost overall employability.
Spain offers several unemployment benefits designed to fit different life circumstances. Examples include:
- The contributor allowance. It targets those who have recently lost a job and have at least 360 days of contributions in the past six years.
- The unemployment benefit. This is for individuals who have exhausted other paid aid or do not meet conditions for the main subsidy.
- Asset Addition Income (RAI). This support is meant for long-term job seekers, applicants over 45, and people with disabilities.
- Extraordinary Unemployment Support (SED). This help is intended for those who have run through other benefits and face special needs situations.
- Subsidy for people over 52. It assists unemployed individuals who have already exhausted their unemployment benefits.
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How to apply for unemployment online
Submitting an online claim for unemployment benefits makes access simpler. Here is how the process works in general:
- Enter the electronic center. Visit the SEPE site and open the Electronic procedures and services area. Then go to the Contacts section and select Claim your benefit.
- Digital identity. It is essential to use a verification tool and password obtained via Cl@ve, a digital certificate, or a DNIe. When you click the Access Requests option, you will see different types to choose from based on personal circumstances.
- Complete the application. The SEPE site lists request types tied to individual situations. After identifying yours, open the form and fill it out. Various attachments exist for each application type (contribution benefits, special benefits for artists, unemployment benefits, real RAI, and more), and user manuals are available for download.
- Review and approve. When the form is finished, the system shows sections to be completed with status indicators: green for complete, orange for warning, red for error. If an error appears, progression is blocked until it is corrected. A compact summary of personal data and several tabs with legal texts, obligations, and data protection information are also visible.
- Sign the application. The signing method depends on the chosen authentication approach: Cl@ave, a digital certificate, or Electronic DNI.
- Receipt of the application. After all steps are properly finished, a notification confirms submission, with options to print the processed form, save a PDF copy, or view additional information about beneficiary obligations.
Using the online route tends to be faster and avoids trips to offices. It also offers the convenience of submitting requests at any time and tracking progress online in real time.