Unemployment Benefit in Greece

If you are employed in Greece and your employer has paid EFKA contributions you will be entitled to unemployment benefit, should you become unemployed, when you have 2 consecutive years of contributions paid.

Seasonal unemployment benefit can be claimed for a specific period of time only, after the first two years of (seasonal) contributions have been paid. Many people with summer employment claim unemployment benefit each winter (or each summer in the case of English teachers).

First time Claims

The insured must have at least 80 working days 'stamps' for each year of the last two years and this must include, in the last 14 months at least 125 working days, but not including the last 2 months.

Or the insured must have at least 200 days in the last two years, not including the last two months.

Subsequent claims

The insured must have at least 125 working days in the last 12 months and not have claimed more than 400 days benefit over the last four years.

To make a claim go to the 'OAED' (Manpower and Employment Organisation) office within 60 days of termination of employment , with the following documents:-
-Tax Return E1 for previous year and a photocopy of this

- An IKA / EFKA statement of 'stamp' days paid for previous 2 years.

- IKA / EOPYY health book and any dependants health book, plus photocopies of these

- Passport and a photocopy of passport

- Official document showing your AMKA number

- Residence certificate (EU citizens) and a photocopy of residence certificate

- A letter from your employer stating when you finished work - when the business has closed at the end of season, or when you were laid off (Apolysei / Απόλυση)

- An Unemployment Card from OAED

- New copy of an electricity or telephone bill for proof of address.

- Proof of income payments for the last three months - usually bank receipts, where your employer has paid your salary directly into your bank account

- A copy of your bank book for a National Bank of Greece (NBG) bank account (of which you must be the main account holder). If you don't have one you'll need to open a new account at NBG before applying for benefit.
Your papers will be taken and processed and you will be told when to return to sign for your first payment , usually 4 to 6 weeks later, and thereafter every two months. The benefit is paid directly into your National Bank account monthly.

Seasonal unemployment benefit is a standard amount for all claimants in 2019 an amount of around 360 Euros per month, with a 10% increase for each dependant child.

Persons who receive unemployment benefit in the United Kingdom or other European country, and move to Greece in an effort to find work may continue to receive umemployment benefit in Greece from the local Manpower and Employment Organisation Office (OAED) for a period of THREE months.

They should produce to their local OAED office (above) form E303, which is issued by their local Benefit Agency in the United Kingdom or other European country.

They must also register themselves at the same OAED office as unemployed within 7 days of signing off in their home country.

IF THE APPLICANT DOES NOT FIND WORK WITHIN THREE MONTHS HE/SHE MUST LEAVE THE COUNTRY.

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Unemployment Benefit
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