Unemployment security often raises practical questions. When should you join an unemployment fund, how much earnings-related allowance can you receive, and what should you do if accepting a job requires a long commute or moving?
Why is it worth belonging to an unemployment fund?
As a member of an unemployment fund, you may receive earnings-related unemployment allowance, the amount of which is based on the salary you earned before becoming unemployed. Without fund membership, an unemployed person is not entitled to earnings-related unemployment allowance paid by an unemployment fund.
It is advisable to become a member while you are still employed, as entitlement to earnings-related unemployment allowance cannot be accrued retroactively.
How much money can you receive from an unemployment fund?
The amount of earnings-related unemployment allowance paid by an unemployment fund depends on the applicant’s previous salary. The allowance is not the same for everyone, nor does it directly correspond to a fixed percentage of the salary.
The amount of earnings-related allowance is also affected by factors such as other income and the duration of unemployment. You can estimate the amount of your allowance using A-kassa’s daily allowance calculator.
What does holiday bonus mean in the construction sector?
Under some collective agreements in the construction sector, holiday pay, holiday bonus and holiday compensation are paid as an amount corresponding to 18.5% of the salary. This combined payment is referred to as the construction sector holiday bonus.
One-third of the amount is holiday bonus. The remaining two-thirds consists of holiday pay for annual leave taken or holiday compensation for annual leave not taken. This affects the amount of earnings-related ubnemployment allowance because different salary components are taken into account in different ways. Read more about how earnings-related allowance is calculated.
How long is 400 days of earnings-related unemployment allowance?
Earnings-related unemployment allowance is paid for a maximum of five days per week. Four hundred benefit days therefore correspond to approximately 80 weeks, or slightly more than one and a half years.
If a person works part-time and receives adjusted earnings-related unemployment allowance, the maximum payment period may be used up more slowly. Read more about the duration and conditions of earnings-related allowance.
When can you receive earnings-related allowance for 500 days?
Earnings-related unemployment allowance may be paid for a maximum of 500 days if the person fulfils the employment condition at the age of 58 or older and has a sufficient employment history.
In this case, age affects the maximum duration of earnings-related unemployment allowance, but not the amount paid in euros. Read more about the maximum payment period for earnings-related allowance.
Does it matter which unemployment fund you belong to?
All unemployment funds in Finland comply with the same legislation. However, there may be differences between funds in membership fees, service channels and additional services offered to members.
When choosing an unemployment fund, it is worth to consider both the price and how well the services suit your needs. A-kassa is an open unemployment fund that any wage-earner can join, regardless of industry. A-kassa also cooperates with several trade unions, and membership of A-kassa is included in the membership fees of several unions. See A-kassa’s partner unions.
What happens if I change unemployment funds?
When changing unemployment funds, the employment condition you have already accrued is not usually lost, provided that you join the new fund within one month of leaving the previous fund.
The safest option is to authorise A-kassa to terminate your membership of the previous fund. You can give the authorisation on the membership application form. Read more about membership and the employment condition.
How does changing trade unions affect unemployment fund membership?
A trade union and an unemployment fund are separate organisations. If you change trade unions, it is important to check whether your membership in your current unemployment fund will also end. See A-kassa’s partner unions.
Joining a new trade union does not necessarily mean that you automatically become a member of a new unemployment fund. Check whether membership of the trade union also includes membership of an unemployment fund.
Who can receive mobility allowance?
Mobility allowance may be granted to an unemployed person who accepts a job that meets the conditions for the benefit or starts training related to such a job. The job must last for at least a specified period, and the commute must be sufficiently long.
At the beginning of the employment, your daily round-trip commute, including any waiting and transfer times, must be:
- more than three hours per day in full-time work
- more than two hours per day in part-time work.
The mobility allowance may also be granted if accepting the job requires moving.
Should an unemployment fund member apply for mobility allowance from Kela?
A member of an unemployment fund applies for mobility allowance from their own unemployment fund. A-kassa members can find information about the conditions and application process for mobility allowance on A-kassa’s website.
Before submitting your application, make sure you check the required information, supporting documents and application deadlines.
When does A-kassa pay benefits?
A-kassa pays processed benefits on working days. The payment date depends on when the application was received, the processing situation and whether all the necessary information and attachments are available. Check the current application processing status.
Before submitting your application, read A-kassa’s Applying Guide, which contains instructions for applying for earnings-related allowance and other benefits.