THE reform of unemployment benefitswhich was approved at the Congress of Deputies last June, comes into force this November 1 with several new features such as the increase of up to 90 euros per month of this benefit during the first six months of receipt and the extension of protected groups. .
Unemployment benefit is a non-contributory aid or benefit which is received for 30 months in the event of exhaustion of the contributory unemployment benefitnot having contributed enough to be able to access it or being over 52 years old, among other hypotheses.
Currently, the amount of the subsidy It is equivalent to 80% of the multiple income indicator (IPREM)which in 2023 is set at 600 euros, the subsidy therefore amounts to around 480 euros.
The SEPE devotes on average 534 million euros per month to the payment of unemployment benefits, which it receives approximately 756,897 peopleaccording to the latest data from August, residents live mainly in the autonomous communities of Andalusia, Valencian Community, Catalonia and Madrid.
New aid amounts
THE the reform improves the amount of the subsidywhich will increase during the first six months to reach 95% of IPREM (around 570 euros per month, 90 euros more). From the seventh month and for the following six months, The amount will increase to 90% of the IPREM (540 euros)to reach the rest of the period, until reaching a maximum of 30 months, at 80% as currently (480 euros). The subsidy for people over 52 remains at 80% of the IPREM.
Nevertheless, IPREM It is not updated and remains at 600 euros per month in 14 payments, a totally insufficient amount for the unions, who are asking for an increase or for the subsidy to be linked to another indicator.
Groups that benefit
It facilitates the access to the subsidy for those under 45 without family responsibilities, to temporary agricultural workers, to cross-border workers from Ceuta and Melilla and to those who accredit contribution periods less than 6 months and lack family responsibilities.
As a novelty, the subsidy is extended to victims of gender violence and returning emigrants. It is also permitted to make the agricultural subsidies of Andalusia and Extremadura compatible with those of the general regime, while the number of actual days is reduced to 10 necessary to access the first (the so-called peonadas).
Likewise, the amounts of subsidies incurred by people with part-time contracts are assimilated to those with full-time contracts, which mainly benefits women.
A grant while I work?
The reform establishes that the subsidy can be received while working as an employeewhether full-time or part-time, for a maximum period of 180 days without reduction in amount, even if this possibility of making the subsidy compatible with salaried work will come into force in April 2025.
This employment support supplement is decreasing over time and will range between 80% of the IPREM that those who work full time will receive during the first quarter, up to 5% of the IPREM that those who have a job for less than half the working day will receive from the fifth trimester.
As a novelty, makes work compatible with the contributory benefit, also from April 2025, once after the first year of payment of the benefitprovided that the the salary received does not exceed 18,900 euros gross per year (1,350 euros in 14 payments with the current IPREM).
This additional employment support is also decreasing over time and will be between the 80% that those who have a full-time job will receive between the thirteenth and the fifteenth month, up to the 15% that those who have a job less than half the time will receive between the twenty-second and the twenty-day of the fourth month.
The Ministry of Labor and the Labor and Social Security Inspectorate are committed to monitoring and controlling the proper functioning of this compatibility between employment and benefit.
Current news
It improves the accessibility to subsidies by eliminating the one-month wait to submit the application once the file is exhausted contributory benefit. The accounting period is reduced to one quarter. The service will be linked to a custom activation route for employment.
The reform also regulates grant collection transition to the minimum vital income (IMV) so that those who meet the conditions to receive this minimum income can receive it directly and automatically.
This will be possible thanks to the launch of a bridge between the public employment services (SEPE) and the National Social Security Institute (INSS), which will take place on November 22.
What happens with the tax return?
People receiving unemployment benefits will have to file the personal income tax return every year from 2025that the income threshold requiring declaration (22,000 euros with a single payer) is not reached.
In the event of non-compliance, the unemployment insured person may be subject to suspension of payment of this benefitwhich is not exempt from personal income tax and withholding tax is applied.
