In this chapter you will find information on unemployment benefits (Bezdarbnieka pabalsti) in Latvia, social insurance contributions as well as formulas for calculating benefit amounts and pay-out periods.

In what situation can I claim?

If you have lost your job, you have the right to claim unemployment benefits (Bezdarbnieka pabalsti). Benefits are granted if you have worked for at least 1 year and social insurance contributions have been paid for at least 12 months during the last 16 months.

You can also claim unemployment benefits if you have regained work capacity after a disability or if you have been caring for a disabled child up to 18 years of age. In these cases the benefits are granted even if social insurance contributions have not been paid or have been paid for less than 12 months.

What conditions do I need to meet?

You can claim unemployment benefits if you have been granted unemployed status by the State Employment Agency (SEA) and you have been socially insured for at least 1 year and social insurance contributions have been paid for you for at least 12 months during the last 16 months.

If you have regained work capacity after a disability, in order to claim unemployment benefits you must obtain unemployed status within 1 month of regaining work capacity. If you are caring for a disabled child, you must obtain unemployed status within 1 month of the child reaching 18 years of age.

If you terminated employment relations on your own initiative or were dismissed due to an infringement, unemployment benefits shall be granted and paid not sooner than 2 months after obtaining unemployed status.

The unemployed are expected to cooperate with the State Employment Agency and carry out tasks listed in individual plan.

What am I entitled to and how can I claim?

Amount of unemployment benefits

Unemployment benefits are granted for 8 months.

The amount of benefits depends on your insurance (employment) history and the wage level from which social insurance contributions have been paid.

The average contribution wage is calculated based on your earnings for the 12-month period which ended 2 months before claiming unemployment benefits.

Unemployment benefits are gradually reduced by increments of 3 months.

If prior to obtaining unemployed status you have been caring for a child aged up to 18 months, regained work capacity after having a disability, or cared for a disabled child aged up to 18 years, your granted benefits will be 60% of the double amount of the state social security benefit in effect on the day when the unemployment benefit is claimed. Currently this is EUR 218 per month for the first 2 months (state social security benefit EUR 109 x2 x60% = EUR 130.80), and accordingly to the algorithm mentioned above the amount decreases for next months.

Application for benefits

You can apply for unemployment benefits by:

• filling out an application form in person at any Branches in Riga and elsewhere;
• posting a completed form to the SSIA;
• emailing a completed form signed with an e-signature to the SSIA;
• along with requesting unemployed status, submitting a completed form in person at any State Employment Agency branch office, if it is no need for additional proof regarding your employment history;
• e-application.

If you have been employed up to 31 December 1995, you must additionally submit documents proving your employment history to the SSIA.

The portal Latvija.lv has information in e-service format regarding your social insurance contributions and the amount of benefits, pensions and support payments you can claim using internet banking or your e-signature.

Jargon busters

Social insurance contributions are legally mandated payments paid into a special budget account which give the right to socially insured persons to receive social insurance benefits stipulated by law, including unemployment, maternity, paternity, illness and parental benefits, disability, old-age and survivor's pensions, and compensation for workplace accidents and work-related illnesses and healthcare services.

Insurance period - employment history and its aligned periods up to 31 December 1990, as well as the period from 1 January 1991, for which social insurance contributions have been paid for a person.

The following have rights to unemployed status: persons who are not employed, are seeking work, are capable of working, are at least 15 years of age, have not reached retirement age or are not receiving the old-age pension, are not receiving primary or secondary education full time, are not engaged in commercial activities and are not under full state care. Unemployed status grants the right to participate in State Employment Agency support activities.

Forms you may need to fill in

• Form for claiming unemployment benefits to be submitted in person to the SEA
• Form for claiming/recalculating unemployment benefits to be submitted to the SSIA in person, by post or email (signed with an e-signature)

Know your rights

See the links below for information on your rights if you become unemployed. These are not European Commission websites and do not reflect the views of the European Commission.

Employment in other European Union countries: information about social insurance contributions and periods if you have worked/lived in another EU country.

Latvian laws and regulations on receiving unemployment benefits:

• Law on Unemployment Insurance
• Law on Support for Unemployed Persons and Persons Seeking Employment
• Law on State Social Insurance
• Cabinet regulations on calculating contribution wages and granting unemployment benefits

European Commission publication and website:

• Unemployment and social security: your rights in other European Union Member States

Who do you need to contact?

State Employment Agency
Administration: K. Valdemara iela 38 k-1, Riga, LV-1010
Tel.: +371 80200206
Email: pasts@nva.gov.lv
twitter.com/NVA_gov_lv
Branches in Riga and elsewhere

State Social Insurance Agency
Lacplesa iela 70a, Riga, LV-1011.
Tel.: +371 64507020 (working days 8.30- 17.00)
Email: pasts@vsaa.gov.lv
Email for consultations: konsultacijas@vsaa.gov.lv twitter.com/VSAA_LV
Branches in Riga and elsewhere

Ministry of Welfare
Skolas iela 28, Riga, LV-1331
Tel.: +371 80205100
Email: lm@lm.gov.lv
twitter.com/Lab_min

If you have any problems regarding your rights in the European Union, please contact the EU assistance service.