Chapter X: Unemployment Chapter X: Unemployment
Applicable statutory basisAct on Unemployment Insurance (Arbeitslosenversicherungsgesetz, ALVG) of 14 November 1977, last amended by BGBl. (Official Journal) I no. 148/1998.
Special Support Act ((Sonderunterstützungsgesetz, SUG) of 30 November 1973, last amended by BGBl. (Official Journal) I no. 148/1998.
Existing schemesUnemployment insurance (Arbeitslosenversicherung).
Unemployment assistance (Notstandshilfe).
Special support (Sonderunterstützung).
Field of applicationAll employees in paid employment, trainees.
Participants of vocational rehabilitation.
No compulsory insurance if the income is below the limit of ATS 3,899 (EUR 283) (Geringfügigkeitsgrenze).
Additional conditions for unemployment assistance (Notstandshilfe):
8 years of employment during the last 10 years or
having fulfilled half of the time of compulsory school education in Austria (for persons under age 25) or
born in Austria. or
having been entitled to permanent residence in Austria for 50% of the life time..
Total unemploymentThe unemployed person must
be at the disposal of the job office,
be capable of work, willing to work and unemployed,
have completed the waiting period and
may not have exhausted the duration of benefit.
52 weeks of insurance periods within the last 24 months. 26 weeks within the last 12 months for persons under the age of 25.
Unemployment benefit is due until the completion of entitlement conditions for old-age pension (see Table VI "Old-age").
Unemployment insurance:
Income from minor employment up to ATS 3,899 (EUR 283) per month does not reduce entitlement, income over this amount totally destroys entitlement (special provisions for short-term employment for less than one month and for self-employed activities).
Unemployment assistance (Notstandshilfe):
State of need; consideration of the beneficiary's own income and the spouse's income (partner) with free allowance until which the income will not be taken account of: ATS 5,781 (EUR 420) per month; ATS 11,564 (EUR 840) for unemployed persons over the age of 50; ATS 17,344 (EUR 1,260) for unemployed men over the age of 55 or women over 54. The free allowance will be increased by ATS 2,913 (EUR 212) or ATS 5,824 (EUR 423) or ATS 8,737 (EUR 635) for each person to whose maintenance the partner mainly contributes.
None.
Upon termination of employment relationship through the employee's fault or in the case the employee terminates the employment relationship without good reason the entitlement is suspended for 4 weeks.
BenefitsAll days.
Insurance:
depends on insurance duration and age.
Insurance periods and duration of payment:
52 weeks within 2 years: 20 weeks;
156 weeks within 5 years: 30 weeks;
312 weeks within 10 years
and 40 years of age: 39 weeks;
468 weeks within 15 years
and 50 years of age: 52 weeks.
This duration will be extended by 156 or 209 weeks if the beneficiary participates in work foundation (special training measure).
Training unemployment benefit (possible after termination of child-raising allowance - see Table IX "Family benefits") duration of benefits 26 weeks.
Unemployment assistance (Notstandshilfe):
unlimited; will be granted for 52 weeks respectively.
Average earnings of the last complete calendar year Special payments (13th and 14th salary) are to be taken account of.
ATS 39,000 (EUR 2,834) per month.
Insurance (Arbeitslosengeld):
basic amount: 56% of daily net income. Lowest daily rate: ATS 58.50 (EUR 4.25). Highest daily rate: ATS 470.60 (EUR 34).
Unemployment assistance (Notstandshilfe):
92% (in some cases 95%) of the basic amount of unemployment benefit. In case of short-term entitlement to unemployment benefit, there is a reduction after 6 months of "higher" daily rates.
Family supplements are due for spouses (partners), children and grand-children: Amount: ATS 22 (EUR 1.60) daily.
Income of the spouse (partner) of over ATS 14,000 (EUR 1,017) has to be offset against the family supplements. Family supplements for the spouses (partners) are only due if family supplements are also due for dependent children and grand-children.
Benefits for older unemployed and early retirementEarly retirement pension in the event of unemployment (see Table VI "Old-age").
Within unemployment insurance special support (Sonderunterstützung): benefit for older unemployed persons in the mining sector: from the age of 52.
Capable to work, willing to work and unemployed and completion of qualifying period required by pension insurance in the event of old-age insurance (See Table VI "Old-age").
Completion of age 52 and at least 10 years of employment in an enterprise of the mining industry before unemployment occurred.
Amount of the theoretical invalidity pension (See Table V "Invalidity").
Partial unemploymentShort-time working support for the employer in the event of short-time working (Kurzarbeitsunterstützung).
Bad weather compensation in the building sector (Schlechtwetterentschädigung).
As regards the respective terms of partial unemployment see "Conditions".
Short-time working support (Kurzarbeitsunterstützung):
No legal entitlement, support is paid to the employer. Collective agreement between the social partners must exist, the number of employees must remain the same, in four subsequent weeks employees must work in 80% of the normal working time (special provisions for older employees), the employer pays a compensation to the employees.
Bad weather compensation (Schlechtwetterentschädigung):
The employers must pay the employees a compensation for the loss of working hours because of bad weather.
Short-time working support (Kurzarbeitsunterstützung):
A minimum of 0.125% of the daily rate of unemployment benefit per working hour lost (flat-rates are fixed by the Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs).
Bad weather compensation (Schlechtwetterentschädigung):
60% of the collectively agreed wages. The employer will be refunded the amounts paid + a payment of 30% (for social insurance).
Unemployment insurance (Arbeitslosengeld) and assistance (Notstandshilfe):
In the event of income from gainful employment accumulation only possible up to the limit of ATS 3,899 (EUR 283) per month, taking account of the benefits not liable to taxation and transfers; no accumulation with sickness benefit and pension.
Taxation and social contributionsBenefits are not subject to taxation.
Not applicable.
None.