End to the adjustment of royalties

Copyright royalties are no longer taken into account in the calculation of adjusted allowances. The new rules are effective as of 1 January 2023.

Thanks to the rule change, compensation for the transfer of rights to, or the use of, copyrighted literary or artistic works and compensation for the transfer of rights to, or the use of, subject matter protected by related rights no longer count as earnings to be taken into account in the calculation of unemployment benefits. The new rules apply to all royalties that are paid to claimants of unemployment benefits on or after 1 January 2023. Other remuneration based on intellectual property rights will continue to count as earnings in the calculation of adjusted allowances.

Prior to the rule change, royalties typically affected the adjustment of daily allowances over a very long period of time. Royalties are usually paid approximately twice a year, and the old rules on adjustment meant that their effects on daily allowances were spread across the same number of months as each royalty payment covered. The aim of the rule change is to improve the unemployment security of those receiving copyright royalties. The reform is also hoped to slightly speed up the processing of earnings-related daily allowance claims.