The State Public Employment Service (SEPE) offers the subsidy for insufficient contributions for those workers who lose their job and have not contributed the 360 days necessary for the contributory unemployment benefit, “unemployment”. Now, not all workers can access it, since it is a requirement to demonstrate lack of income, the limit of which is set at 915.75 euros per month, a figure that corresponds to 75% of the minimum interprofessional wage (SMI) which is set for 2026 at 1,221 euros per month.
The amount of this unemployment benefit is not fixed, that is, it varies depending on the duration it is collected, so the longer it is received, the more the amount will decrease. The monthly payment depends on the public indicator of multiple effects income (IPREM) and during the first six months 95% (570 euros) is charged; The following six months will be charged 90% (540 euros) and, from one year until it is exhausted, 80% (480 euros).
In addition, the SEPE requires that you have contributed at least 90 days for unemployment. Let us remember that contributing to Social Security is not the same as contributing to unemployment. All employed workers included in the General Social Security Regime, as well as in special systems (such as the agricultural system) or the Maritime Regime, contribute towards unemployment. Also training contracts.
Now, article 274 of the General Social Security Law explains that the applicant must be legally unemployed and have no income of their own. Furthermore, for the purposes of calculating income, “excluding the proportional part of two extraordinary payments” when calculating that limit of 75% of the SMI.
At this point, it is worth remembering that the date to request initial registration of the subsidy must be within the period of six months following the date of the causative event, since if those six months elapse, the application will be denied.
Duration of the subsidy according to family responsibilities
Of course, it must be taken into account that if the worker complies with the required contributions but does not have family responsibilities, the time to collect his or her benefit will be considerably reduced by the tables established by law for those who take advantage of this assistance modality.
| Minimum period of quoted occupancy | Accreditation of family responsibilities | Maximum duration of the subsidy |
|---|---|---|
| 90 days | No | 3 months |
| 120 days | No | 4 months |
| 150 days | No | 5 months |
| 180 days | No | 6 months |
| 180 days | Yeah | 21 months |
For example, those who decide to apply for aid having contributed 90, 120 or 150 days, regardless of whether or not they have family responsibilities, would face a maximum duration of 3, 4 and 5 months, respectively. While if they credit 180 days (six months) the scenario changes: those without family responsibilities would see their benefit limited to 6 months, compared to the maximum duration of 21 months that is granted to people who do have such responsibilities.