Financial support for job seekers

Unemployment allowance

To be eligible for unemployment allowance, an applicant must have fulfilled the employment eligibility requirement (Anwartschaft - this is the minimum required amount of employment subject to mandatory unemployment insurance over a given period).

Generally, when first claiming unemployment allowance, the applicant will need to have completed 52 weeks of employment subject to mandatory unemployment insurance within the previous two years.

However, when youths under 25 years of age claim unemployment allowance for the first time, a total of 26 weeks of employment subject to mandatory unemployment insurance is sufficient as a basis for eligibility for unemployment allowance.

Detailed information about unemployment allowance can also be found at oesterreich.gv.at.

Other financial benefits

If a person has drawn unemployment allowance and has exhausted the potential eligibility period, there may under certain conditions be an entitlement to emergency assistance.

Detailed information about the support services of the Austrian Public Employment Service (AMS) for job seekers can also be found at oesterreich.gv.at.

Online guide and calculator

• Unemployment allowance - Entitlement^{German text}
• Unemployment allowance - Entitlement duration^{German text}
• Paying out monetary benefits^{German text}
• Emergency assistance^{German text}
• Career development training - eligibility for financial assistance from the AMS^{German text}
• Grants for career development training - eligibility requirements^{German text}
• Notification obligations to the AMS^{German text}

Legal basis

 Sections 14, 33 to 38 of the Arbeitslosenversicherungsgesetz (AlVG)