Unemployment Benefit in Spain
Posted: 18 May 2009 08:34 PM  
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Hi,

I am a New Zealand citizen with working papers for Spain. In the last 365 days I have been fully employed for nearly nine months, but recently lost my job in March. Although I am looking for work on a constant basis, I may need to take the paro in order to make ends meet and pay rent etc.

I have read in several forums that you need to have worked for at least 365 days in the last six years in order to be eligible for the paro… and then they pay you a percentage of your last salary. Is this correct? By my calculations I have worked for about 260-270 days.

If anyone could clarify my position that would be great. I don?t want to take the paro here in my adopted country, but if it means being able to pay rent and spend more time looking for work instead of worrying about finances, well…


Brandon

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Posted: 21 May 2009 07:36 PM   [ # 1 ]  
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Hi,

I have recently applied for the paro for the first time and the first question that they asked was have I worked for a year or more….

So, not a definate response to your question but it doesn’t look good…

Em

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Posted: 21 May 2009 08:31 PM   [ # 2 ]  
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paro ? whats is this please
jurdy

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Posted: 21 May 2009 10:25 PM   [ # 3 ]  
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el paro = unemployment benefit.

... where are you moderating from?

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Posted: 22 May 2009 12:12 AM   [ # 4 ]  
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sorry know it sa the dole ... from the uk but not on el paro .... work here in Elche

jurdy

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Posted: 22 May 2009 05:14 AM   [ # 5 ]  
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Nice one. I?m not on the dole either, and doesn?t look like i will be either! ; )

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Posted: 23 May 2009 06:33 PM   [ # 6 ]  
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Sorry to hear you’re unemployed, the same thing happened to me and I was unemployed for 3 months at the begining of this year. When I went to the INEM to register as unemployed, I had to take all my papers, certificado de empresa etc. Do you have a paper with your vida laboral? If not you can get this off the spanish social security website. I hadnt worked enough days to get the paro but I was offered an ayuda of 433? here in BCN. ~If you claim this ayuda, you lose all your contributions (days worked) and you can only claim it for a maximum of 6 months. In the end I decided it wasnt worth it and lived off savings. Try and get any type of temp job you can to bring up your days worked to 365 and then once you’re there, you’ll get the paro and can search for something you’re interested in. Good luck, it’s not easy but be positive and you’ll get a new job.

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Posted: 09 August 2009 12:41 AM   [ # 7 ]  
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Hey escocesa. What was the ayuda of 433 euros called?

I’v been working in spain for the last 8 months, with all the papers and paying social secuirty etc. I have just finished my contract and now I am unemployed.

So the first question is whether I can claim el paro after 8 months or is it definately 365 days?

Next point is that I had an accident 7 months ago, for which I require surgery on my leg. The operation is scheduled for the end of October, in Spain. After the op I won’t be able to work until the new year.

Does anyone know what help I could recieve money wise? In England, my home land, it would be something like an incapacity benefit, but I don’t know if it exists here nor whether I am eligible.

Any help would be massively appreciated.

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Posted: 09 August 2009 12:17 PM   [ # 8 ]  
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A Spanish friend of mine who returned to Spain from Argentina 8 yrs ago was made unemployed.

His entitlement was his full wage for 14 months.

This was 900 Euros a month. His problem was he was a waiter and his earnings was low and made up with tips.

He has a wife and child, he is now earning in the black economy, he no longer receives any benefits other than 50 Euros a month.

They regularly receive food from the Red Cross.

He lives in Malaga city, so shows how bad work in Spain is if you can only get illegal work as a waiter in the Costa Del Sol.

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Posted: 09 August 2009 12:24 PM   [ # 9 ]  
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madeline - 09 August 2009 12:41 AM

Hey escocesa. What was the ayuda of 433 euros called?

I’v been working in spain for the last 8 months, with all the papers and paying social secuirty etc. I have just finished my contract and now I am unemployed.

So the first question is whether I can claim el paro after 8 months or is it definately 365 days?

Next point is that I had an accident 7 months ago, for which I require surgery on my leg. The operation is scheduled for the end of October, in Spain. After the op I won’t be able to work until the new year.

Does anyone know what help I could recieve money wise? In England, my home land, it would be something like an incapacity benefit, but I don’t know if it exists here nor whether I am eligible.

Any help would be massively appreciated.

You need to look here.

http://www.seg-social.es/Internet_6/index.htm?ssUserText=

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Posted: 09 August 2009 12:51 PM   [ # 10 ]  
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Hi madeline

I’m not sure what the ayuda is called but when I went to the INEM they offered me the ayuda as I wasn’t able to claim paro. You should go along and see what they say. You also may be able to get some sort of pension because of the operation…..I’m not 100% sure. However, the ayuda I mentioned means that you lose all your time worked so in your case, the 8 months of contributions will be cancelled out and you’ll start from zero again…..sorry to be the bearer of bad news! That’s why I didn’t claim it!!

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Posted: 09 August 2009 02:03 PM   [ # 11 ]  
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There is very little helpin Spain for unemployed etc etc.

Its a facture many miss when planning in Spain, Spaniards rely on family and friends and the black economy in hard times.

Means its especially difficult if you have no family and few friends and little grasp on the lingo.

It should be a huge warning signal to many on forums who still want to move to Spain with no language ability, no jobs and a family to support etc etc.

Spain is a long way from giving its people Housing Benefit, unemployment allowance, child tax credits, working tax credits etc etc.

They support the concept of work = money.

But its an issue when there is no work.

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Posted: 09 August 2009 03:05 PM   [ # 12 ]  
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The “ayuda” is called “subsidio”, and it?s a little over 400 euros per month.  I think you can only claim it for 6 months, but you need to have worked for at least 6 months in order to do so.

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Posted: 11 August 2009 08:20 PM   [ # 13 ]  
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If you’re self employed you end up paying a huge amount in social security payments (autonomo) per month (regardless of income) and you cant claim anything if you have no work.

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Posted: 02 September 2009 09:43 PM   [ # 14 ]  
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Hi Binspain,
I think all the above replies are giving you the right information.  I was made redundant after working for the same (British co - un registered here) for 7yrs - and only had a contract the last year - Hence I only got 3/4 of my salary for 5.5 months, then nothing more!  (I had not heard of auyda, but it sounds as though I got the better deal at the time).  It seems rough not to get anything even tho you contributed for 8 months. 
Were you ever in HM Forces?  The Royal British Legion (they have branches here), will give you a small handout (if you meet their criteria) - but it will only tide you over for a month or so.  But better than nowt!

Last post above ^ is correct - re autonomo monthly contribution.  I enquired about voluntarty SS payments - to make sure I got contined healt care - but it was a whopping Eu 230 pcm (just a little under what it costs a self-employed person) - So with no income I do not know how they think one can pay that! 

Good luck - hope something comes along soon. 

(I did enquire also with my local town hall about subsistence grants - but they had no clue). 
You could try the ‘Trabajadora Social’ (social worker) at your local health centre where you were registered (they keep you on the records for about 12 months before cutting you off!) - They are great - and will help with advice any way they can -

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