Temporary amendments extended to the end of the year

The coronavirus outbreak has forced the Government to introduce a number of temporary changes to the system of unemployment benefits. These emergency measures have now been extended until the end of the year.

Amendment
Scope of application
Earnings-related daily allowances can be
paid as of the first day of unemployment
without a waiting period.
This applies to applicants whose waiting
period would ​​​​​​​otherwise begin between
​​​​​​​16 March and 31 December 2020.
The minimum period of previous employment
required to qualify for an earnings-related
​​​​​​​daily allowance has been temporarily reduced.
This applies to applicants who do not have
26 weeks of employment history but who
have been members of an unemployment
fund for 13 weeks of the period during
which they have been working, who have
worked at least one week of the period that
counts towards the minimum length of
employment required after 1 March 2020
and who receive their first earnings-related
daily allowance payment no later than
​​​​​​​31 December 2020.
The maximum period of time for which an
earnings-related daily allowance can be paid ​​​​​​​will
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​not be affected by lay-off.
Applied to applicants whose lay-off has started
on 16 March 2020 of thereafter. Maximum period
shall not accumulate during the period ​​​​​​​from 16
​​​​​​​March – 30 June 2020.
The maximum payment period of earnings-
​​​​​​​related ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​daily allowance will not accumulate.
Earnings-related daily allowance paid during the
period from 1 July – 31 December 2020 shall not
accumulate the maximum payment period of a
​​​​​​​daily allowance period.
The earnings disregard threshold has been
​​​​​​​temporarily raised to EUR 500 per month.
This applies to application periods that begin
​​​​​​​between 1 June and 31 October 2020.
The eligibility rules for mobility allowances
​​​​​​​have been temporarily relaxed.
This applies to applicants who sign a new
employment ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​contract between 12 June and 31
​​​​​​​October 2020.
Entrepreneurs may receive labour market support
from Kela if the income from entrepreneurial
​​​​​​​activities ​​​​​​​has ​​​​​​​decreased due ​​​​​​​to the coronavirus.
This applies from 16 March until 31 December 2020.
Reliefs in examination of labour policy
​​​​​​​obstacles.
This applies from 16 March until 31 December 2020.
Progress requirements for independent studies
financed by unemployment benefits can be ​​​​​​
​​​​​​​waived ​​​​​​​if progress has been hindered by ​​​​​​​COVID-19.
This applies from 1 August until 31 December 2020.