Unemployment Benefit in Austria (Arbeitslosengeld): Amount, Duration and Blocking Periods

If you lose your job in Austria, unemployment benefit (Arbeitslosengeld) provides financial support while you look for work. Whether you qualify, how much you receive and how long payments continue depends on your previous insured employment, your age and how your employment ended. The rules below apply in 2026.

In brief:

• The basic amount is 55 percent of your daily net income.
• It is generally paid for 20 weeks, or for 30, 39 or 52 weeks with longer insurance periods and at higher ages.
• For a first application, people over 25 generally need 52 weeks of unemployment-insured employment during the previous two years.
• If you resign, benefit is generally not paid during the first four weeks (waiting period, Sperrfrist).
• You must submit your application to the AMS no later than the first day of unemployment.

Who is eligible for unemployment benefit?

In general, you may receive benefit if you are unemployed, able and willing to work, available for job placement and have not used up your maximum entitlement period. While receiving benefit, you generally need to be ready to accept work of at least 20 hours per week. Exceptions apply, for example, in connection with childcare.

You must also have completed the required period of unemployment-insured employment, known as the qualifying period (Anwartschaft):

• First application, over 25: 52 weeks during the last 2 years.
• Repeat application: 28 weeks during the last 1 year.
• Under 25, including a first application: 26 weeks during the last 1 year.

Self-employed people are generally not covered by unemployment insurance, but they can join the system voluntarily. They then pay a monthly contribution, choosing from three contribution bases, and can leave the system at the earliest after eight years.

How much is Arbeitslosengeld?

The benefit can consist of three parts:

• Basic amount (Grundbetrag): 55 percent of daily net income.
• Family supplement (Familienzuschlag): payable if you make a significant contribution to the support of certain relatives, such as a child qualifying for the family supplement, or under certain conditions, a spouse, partner or registered partner.
• Supplementary amount (Ergänzungsbetrag): if the basic amount is below the threshold for the compensatory supplement for single people (Ausgleichszulagenrichtsatz), it can be increased up to 60 percent of net income, or up to 80 percent if a family supplement is payable.

The calculation is generally based on the last twelve completed monthly contribution bases stored by the Association of Social Insurance Institutions. The twelve months before the application are not taken into account because they are still within the correction period. Special payments, including 13th and 14th monthly salaries, are included as a flat-rate amount equal to one-sixth of the contribution base.

Training supplement

If you attend training or retraining commissioned by the AMS, you receive a daily supplement in addition to the benefit:

• Standard case: 2.67 euros in 2026.
• More than 4 months: three times this amount.
• More than 12 months: five times this amount.

The amount is adjusted annually.

How long is the benefit paid?

The basic entitlement period is 20 weeks. It can be extended under certain conditions:

• 30 weeks: 156 weeks of insured employment, with no age limit.
• 39 weeks: from age 40, with 312 weeks during the last 10 years.
• 52 weeks: from age 50, with 468 weeks during the last 15 years.
• Up to 78 weeks under certain conditions: completion of vocational rehabilitation, with no age limit.

For training within a work foundation (Arbeitsstiftung), the entitlement can be extended by up to three or four years. Once you have used up your benefit, you may be able to claim emergency assistance (Notstandshilfe) under certain conditions.

Blocking periods, waiting periods and suspension

Waiting period (Sperrfrist)

If you resigned or lost your job through your own fault, benefit is generally not paid during the first four weeks after the employment ends. There is no such waiting period when the employer terminates the employment, provided this was not due to your culpable conduct, or when the employment ends by mutual agreement (einvernehmliche Auflösung). The entitlement period is not shortened; only the start of payment is postponed by four weeks. For a justified reason, such as a new job or a serious health reason, the AMS may waive the waiting period partly or completely.

Loss of entitlement (Ausschlussfrist)

If you refuse a suitable job or training course arranged through job placement, you lose the benefit for at least six weeks, including after the first refusal. For further breaches of obligations, this can increase to eight weeks. You must remain available during this period.

Suspension (Ruhen)

During certain periods, payments stop but the total entitlement period is not reduced. Examples include sick pay, maternity benefit (Wochengeld), time spent abroad, the period covered by payment in lieu of leave, or payment of further-training benefit.

Can you go abroad or work while receiving benefit?

As a general rule, unemployment benefit is not paid while you are abroad. For a justified reason, such as documented job-seeking abroad, training or the funeral of a close relative, permission may be granted for up to three months. You must submit an application for exemption on grounds of equity (Nachsichtsansuchen) to the AMS.

From January 1, the rules for low-income secondary employment (geringfügige Beschäftigung) became stricter. It is still permitted, for example, if you had already carried out and continue the work for at least 26 weeks alongside fully insured employment, or for up to 26 weeks after 365 days of receiving benefit.

Where and when should you apply?

Apply to the regional AMS office responsible for your place of residence, either in person or online through Mein AMS. The application must be submitted no later than the first day of unemployment. You can also apply before becoming unemployed. If your last working day is Friday, you must apply by Monday at the latest.

The benefit is paid in arrears each month, around the 8th of the following month, either into a bank account or by post. Payment into a bank account is more convenient. You also have health insurance while receiving the benefit.

Frequently asked questions

Is the benefit period reduced if I resign?

No. The four-week waiting period only postpones the start of payment; it does not reduce the total entitlement period.

What can I do if I disagree with the amount?

Within three months of receiving the notification, you can request a formal decision (Bescheid). You can lodge a complaint (Beschwerde) against a rejection decision within four weeks.

Do I have health insurance during the waiting period?

Yes, if you submitted your application on time, generally no later than the first day of unemployment.

Can I receive childcare benefit and unemployment benefit at the same time?

In principle, yes, but only if another person, such as a crèche, kindergarten or family member, demonstrably provides childcare and you remain available without significant restrictions.

Practical steps

1. Check whether you meet the required insured-employment period for your age and application history.
2. Register with the AMS and submit your Arbeitslosengeld application no later than the first day of unemployment.
3. Use the regional AMS office or the Mein AMS online platform.
4. Tell the AMS how your employment ended, especially if you resigned or agreed to a mutual termination.
5. Report planned travel, illness, training and any secondary employment before they affect your availability or payments.
6. Check the decision and payment calculation. Request a Bescheid within three months if necessary, and submit a Beschwerde within four weeks against a rejection.

This article is based on publicly available information and is not legal, employment or financial advice. For advice about your individual situation, contact the AMS or an appropriate professional adviser.

Source: oesterreich.gv.at