Membership seniority

In all unemployment insurance funds, you will not be eligible for benefits until you have been a member of an unemployment insurance fund for at least 12 months. The period of membership is also referred to as membership seniority.

Other requirements apply to new graduates.

If you become a member of another unemployment insurance fund, the membership seniority will be transferred to the new unemployment insurance fund.

If you have lived abroad and paid into an unemployment insurance fund or an insurance scheme in the country you have lived in, there are special rules on membership seniority that you should be aware of.