How to apply for unemployment benefits after returning from abroad

What is unemployment benefit (EU)?

Claiming the unemployment benefit after termination of gainful activity in the territory of another Member State of the European Union, Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland, Switzerland, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (until 31 December 2020) is regulated not only by the Act on Social Insurance but also by the legislation of the EU. The purpose is to ensure income for citizens after losing their job in EU countries.

Am I entitled to unemployment benefits?

You are entitled to unemployment benefits if you meet the following conditions:

  • you are an unemployed person after termination of employment in the territory of another EU Member State, Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland, Switzerland, the United Kingdom of Great Britain or Northern Ireland (until 31/12/2020) and
  • you meet all conditions for entitlement to unemployment benefits according to Slovak legislation.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

The fact that you meet the conditions for entitlement to the benefit in one EU state does not mean that you will automatically be awarded unemployment benefits in another EU Member State.

Please note that if you started working in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland after 1/1/2021, in the event that this employment ends and you claim unemployment benefit in Slovakia, this period cannot be evaluated on the basisi of the trade and cooperation agreement, which regulates relations between EU Member States and the United Kingdom after 1 January 2021.

How to proceed?

If you became unemployed after the end of your employment in the territory of another EU Member State, you will claim unemployment benefit as a matter of priority in the given State, i.e. in the State of your last employment.

What will you achieve?

  • the whole process will be faster and easier,
  • the State of last employment has up-to-date information about your last employment/insurance available, and if necessary, will also request information about employment/insurance from another EU Member State,
  • if in the State of your last employment you meet the conditions for entitlement to unemployment benefits, the benefits will be awarded to you,
  • if you have benefits awarded and you want to look for work in the territory of another EU Member State, you can transfer the benefits – have them exported to another EU Member State, e.g. also to the territory of Slovakia (see Export of Employment Benefits to the Territory of Slovakia, Export of Unemployment Benefit from Slovakia to the Territory of another EU State (SK)).

More information is available in the section: UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT AND EU - (EXCEPTION AND PROCEDURE IN SLOVAKIA).