Informational summary based on official information from AMS (status: November 2026). In individual cases, the decision is always made by the relevant AMS branch.
A Unemployment benefit Its primary goal is to help bridge the gap between the termination of the employment relationship and the establishment of a new employment relationship.
Conditions for applying
1. You must apply for unemployment benefits from the country where your place of residence is located;, In Austria, the Austrian Labour Office (Labour Market Service – AMS) regional branch. In recent years, the foreigners who claim unemployment benefits from Austria have been increasingly scrutinized and controlled. Previously, it was enough to Proof of address (with registration certificate), Presentation of a permanent address (Hauptwohnsitz) or a temporary address (Nebenwohnsitz), nowadays, if you cannot prove that you are living in Austria on a permanent basis, they will reject your application (family, permanent address in Hungary). With a rental contract, paying the bills related to the address, with a registration certificate (Anmeldebescheinigung) (as the existence of this means that you have been in Austria for at least 3 months and a salary check is requested before the exhibition), or with a declaration of intent issued by the employer with the exact date of future employment (Confirmation of resettingYou can prove that Austria has indeed become your place of residence. The documents required for the verification procedure are always set by the AMS and may change individually. If you meet all the other requirements and your application is approved, they can also check later if this situation has not changed. You have one week to notify the AMS of a change of address. In case it is confirmed that your place of residence is not Austria, the aid you have already received must be refunded and a criminal procedure may be initiated against you for fraud. Do not be alarmed if you really lived here; we are very flexible and can register quickly; it is much simpler than it sounds at first.
2. Unemployment
3. Work ability and availabilityThat is, you must be able to commit to working a minimum of 20 hours per week, or 16 hours per week if you are responsible for the care of a child under 10 years of age, or a person with a disability. Those who only stay in the country during the seasonal work period and their address ceases to exist at the end of the season when they travel home are no longer available on the Austrian labor market. They are not eligible to receive unemployment benefits from Austria. They must contact the employment department of the district office responsible for their address in Hungary.
4. ApplicationUnemployment must be reported to the AMS branch responsible for the place of residence: in person, online (eAMS-Account / MeinAMS), by post or fax. The benefit does not apply retroactively, so please register no later than on the last day of your employment relationship. If you already know the date of termination, you can also register in advance. Since July 1, 2025, any interruption (e.g., foreign stay, illness) must be reported immediately and the benefit will only be paid starting from the day of the new registration.
In the event of your own resignation (or if the employer dismisses you for your own fault) the benefit does not apply in the first 4 weeks (Wartefrist).
IMPORTANT – U1 certificate: If you have previously worked in Hungary or in another EU country and would like to claim this time, the PD U1 certificate must be obtained in that country. In Hungary, this is issued by the government agency’s employment department. However, if you move back from Austria and claim benefits at home, you must request the U1 from the AMS (online: e-ams.at).
5. The GYES (Kinderbetreuungsgeld) and unemployment benefit can be applied for at the same time if childcare is provided (nursery, kindergarten, etc.) and you are able to find work.
6. Pre-insurance period:
- For the first application, at least 52 weeks of guaranteed employment must have been provided in the last 24 months.
- In 25 years, 12 months is enough for 26 weeks.
- For repeated applications, 28 weeks must be completed within the last 12 months.
The insurance periods acquired in Austria and other EU countries are added together, but only if you last worked in Austria as an insured person.
Documents required for the application
(It varies individually, depending on the regional branch and the administrator as well; what they ask of you will definitely depend on these, but the following will be necessary)
- Certificate of termination of employment (Leaving papers)
- Proof of address (with registration number)
- passport or identity card
- E-card
- Bank account number (to which the aid can be transferred)
If there is:
- Residence permit (Anmeldebescheinigung)
- Rental agreement, proof of payment of rent
How long does the aid last? (Duration of use)
- Basically 20 weeks.
- 30 weeks if you have at least 156 weeks of guaranteed time in the last 5 years.
- For 39 weeks, if you are over 40 years old and you have had at least 312 weeks of guaranteed time in the last 10 years.
- For 52 weeks, if you are over 50 years old and you have had at least 468 weeks of guaranteed time in the last 15 years.
How much is the aid? The basic amount of the benefit is 55% of the net income. This is calculated by the AMS from the monthly contributions of the last 12 months. There is a family allowance per dependent child, 0.97 € per day. For low income families, there is an additional amount. Without family allowance, the benefit can be up to 60% of the net income, with family allowance it can be up to 80%. The exact daily amount is determined by the AMS, and can be estimated in advance using the AMS online calculator.
Work alongside assistance (new rule from 2026): Since January 1, 2026, work on a very limited scale alongside the aid can only be undertaken in exceptional cases:
- Those who have already worked part-time for at least 26 weeks before becoming unemployed may continue to do so;
- Long-term unemployed can take on such work for a single period of up to 26 weeks;
- permanently unemployed people over 50 years of age or with at least 50% impaired working capacity may take on the job without a time limit;
- Those who have received sickness benefits for at least 52 weeks may take it out once, for a maximum of 26 weeks.
If you do not fall into the exceptions and still work, you will lose the benefit. Ask the AMS before any work begins!
Detailed and always up-to-date information: AMS – work alongside assistance, and the Official website of AMS.