The State Public Employment Service (SEPE) allows unemployed people who start working part-time to continue collecting the subsidy for those over 52 years of age, but taking into account that as long as it is received, days of subsidy will continue to be consumed. In addition, the full aid will not be collected, but only a part, which allows the worker to accept partial employment without completely losing this protection.
This is explained in article 282.3 of the General Law of Social Securitywhich establishes that those who access unemployment benefits by maintaining one or more part-time contracts, as well as those who are already receiving it and later begin full-time or part-time employment, will make it compatible as a complement to employment support (CAE). The rule itself adds that “during its receipt, regardless of the percentage applied, as many days of the duration of the subsidy will be consumed as the days received as an employment support supplement.”
This also affects the subsidy for those over 52 years of age, since article 280 of the same law makes it clear that this aid is suspended and resumed in accordance with the general rules provided for the subsidy, and its ordinary amount continues to be 80% of the IPREM (currently it is 480 euros per month). Furthermore, while it is being collected, the SEPE contributes to the retirement pension for 125% of the current minimum contribution base, which means that we do not have job gaps and that this affects the future retirement pension.
In this way, an unemployed person over 52 years of age who finds a part-time job does not automatically lose the subsidy. What happens is that it starts charging it in a reduced amount, like CAE, and without the need to expressly request it. In fact, his own SEPE explains that this complement “is recognized ex officio” and that it is not a voluntary option for the beneficiary.
How much do you charge if you work part-time?
The amount of the supplement depends on the quarter in which the subsidy is found and the percentage of working hours agreed upon at the beginning of compatibility. In the case of a part-time work of at least 50% and less than 75%, the legal scale is as follows:
- 70% of the IPREM in the first quarter
- 45% of IPREM in the second quarter
- 30% of the IPREM in the third quarter
- 20% of IPREM in the fourth quarter
- 10% of the IPREM from the fifth quarter onwards
Translated into the amounts reported by the SEPE, that means 420 euros in the first quarter, 270 euros in the second, 180 euros in the third, 120 euros in the fourth and 60 euros from the fifth, as long as the day is in that section.
The limit is 180 days
Compatibility is not indefinite. The law sets a maximum duration of 180 days, which can be consumed in one or several periods. And he insists that this time also deducts from the recognized subsidy. If this limit is reached and aid is still pending, the subsidy is suspended and can only be resumed when the worker once again proves legal unemployment status.
Therefore, although this measure improves the protection of those who accept partial work, it also forces them to do some accounting. Collecting the subsidy while working can relieve the family economy in the short term, but it reduces the days that will be available later.