My SWF

Unemployment Benefits

Financial assistance in the event of unemployment.

unemployment benefits

What is unemployment assistance?

Unemployment benefits from the SWF are financial assistance for temporary workers.

You receive this assistance if you no longer have a job.

The benefit is:

  • tax-free
  • not subject to social security contributions
  • no reduction in your AMS benefits

 

Who is eligible for unemployment benefits?

Who is a temporary worker? A temporary worker works as follows:

  • You are employed by a temporary employment agency (AKÜ).
  • However, you work in another company. This company is called the employer company.
  • You receive your wages from the temporary employment agency.
  • You do your work at the employer company.
  • You have the same rights as other employees in the company.

If you worked like this in the past, you were a temporary worker.

 

What requirements must be met?

You can receive support if all of the following points are met:

  • You have worked as a temporary worker for at least 2 consecutive months.
  • You do not start a new job with social security in the first week after the end of your temporary work.
  • You did not resign yourself.
  • You were not dismissed for just cause.
  • You did not leave your job prematurely without justification.
  • You submit the application within 6 months of becoming unemployed.
  • The first day of the deadline is the day after the end of your employment.
  • You can receive the benefit several times a year.
  • Important: The requirements must be met each time.

How do I submit the application?

The application is simple. You submit it online via "Mein SWF," the SWF service portal.

 

How much money will I receive?

  • 80 euros as a one-time payment if you previously worked as a temporary employee in a marginal employment relationship.
  • 330 euros if you have not previously worked on a marginal basis. An additional 330 euros if you still do not have a new job with social security after 1 month.

The money will be transferred to your bank account. The payment will be made once all requirements have been checked and met.

What is unemployment benefit?

The SWF unemployment benefit provides temporary workers with financial assistance if they become unemployed. The benefit is not taxable, is not subject to social security contributions, and is not counted toward AMS benefits.

 

Who can apply for unemployment benefits?

Temporary workers, if you are unemployed 

What requirements must be met?

  • The temporary worker must have been employed continuously in the temporary employment sector for at least two months.

  • No new employment relationship subject to social security contributions may have been entered into within one week of the end of the employment/service relationship. 

  • The previous employment relationship must not have been terminated by voluntary resignation, justified dismissal, or unjustified early departure.

  • The application for support must be submitted to the SWF within six months of becoming unemployed. The deadline is calculated from the first day after the end of the employment/service relationship under labor law.

  • Support can be applied for several times per calendar year, provided that the requirements are met in each case.

Bauarbeiter überblickt die Baustelle, Abenddämmerung Der Claim des SWF. Mehr Weiterbildung. Mehr Unterstützung. Mehr Zukunft.
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How do I submit an application?

Applications can be submitted easily and without red tape via “My SWF”.

Amount and payment of unemployment benefits?

  • €80 one-time payment for former temporary workers in marginal employment

  • €330 for all other temporary workers, plus an additional €330 if they still do not have a new job subject to social insurance contributions after one month

Payment will be made directly to the temporary worker's account as soon as all requirements have been checked and met.

Read the details in § 6 of the SWF Benefits Regulations. (Link)

Downloads: Checklist and process flow 

Helpful downloads for applying