Job Seeker's Allowance Eligibility and Application: Self-Employed and Daily Workers

2024 Job Seeker's Allowance (Unemployment Benefits)

Job Seeker's Allowance (Unemployment Benefits), a central government policy subsidy implemented by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, is a system that supports the livelihood and speedy return to the labor market of employed persons covered by the Employment Insurance who leave their jobs for involuntary reasons, by providing job seeker's allowance during their job search period.

Link to Eligibility and Application Method for Job Seeker's Allowance

Requirements for Receiving Job Seeker's Allowance

To meet the eligibility requirements for unemployment benefits, you must basically have two requirements for receiving job seeker's allowance. These are Employment Insurance coverage and the insured period. Simply put, to prepare for the risk of potential job loss in the future, you join a social insurance system. To meet the job seeker's allowance requirements, you must first be enrolled in Employment Insurance.

Eligibility for Unemployment Benefits

To meet the eligibility requirements for unemployment benefits, you must have been enrolled in employment insurance for at least 180 days in the 18 months prior to the date of leaving your job (unemployment). This is counted excluding holidays or weekends. You should know that even if you have worked for 180 days or more, i.e., for more than 6 months, not everyone is eligible for unemployment benefits.

For example, for a 5-day work week employee, if the number of working days is 5 days a week, with 1 paid day off, the total of 6 days becomes one week's insured period, and the monthly average becomes 26 days. Therefore, if the 4 major insurances (employment insurance) have been covered for about 7 months, the 180-day insured period will be met.

Assuming you work 15 days a month and the 4 major insurances have been covered for about 6 months, this falls short of 180 days, so even if you leave your job involuntarily due to business closure, you will not meet the eligibility requirements for unemployment benefits.

Furthermore, according to the basic unemployment benefit conditions stipulated by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, only those with 13 justifiable reasons for leaving their jobs without any restrictions on eligibility can receive unemployment benefits. The "justifiable reasons for leaving a job" mentioned by the Ministry of Employment and Labor include, for example, recommendation of resignation, contract expiration, wage arrears and closure of the business, a commute time exceeding 3 hours round trip, pregnancy and childbirth, injury or illness, and inability to apply for leave, as well as the employer's violation of laws, therefore meeting the basic conditions for unemployment benefits.

Eligibility for Unemployment Benefits for Daily Workers and Self-Employed Individuals

So, are daily workers also eligible for unemployment benefits? The eligibility requirements for daily workers are the same as for general unemployment benefits, except for the two points below. Even self-employed individuals can receive unemployment benefits if they meet the eligibility requirements.

Unemployment Benefit Conditions for Daily Workers

1. Those with less than 10 working days in the month prior to the application for eligibility
2. Those who worked as daily workers for 90 days or more in the 18 months (or 24 months for very short-hour workers) before becoming unemployed

Unemployment Benefit Conditions for Self-Employed Individuals

1. Business owners who have been enrolled in employment insurance and paid insurance premiums for at least one year before the date of business closure
2. Those who voluntarily closed their business due to involuntary reasons
3. Those who are actively engaged in job searching
4. Those who have the willingness and ability to work, but are unable to find a job

Unemployment Benefit Period

The unemployment benefit (job seeker's allowance) period is calculated based on the age and employment insurance coverage period, with a standard of under 50 years old. It is set at 120 days for less than 1 year, 150 days for 1 to less than 3 years, 180 days for 3 to less than 5 years, 210 days for 5 to less than 10 years, and 240 days for 10 years or more.

Unemployment Benefit (Job Seeker's Allowance) Period
Based on under 50 years old
Less than 1 year: 120 days
1 year ~ less than 3 years: 150 days
3 years ~ less than 5 years: 180 days
5 years ~ less than 10 years: 210 days
10 years or more: 240 days

How to Apply for Job Seeker's Allowance (Unemployment Benefits)

Applying for unemployment benefits is very simple; first, register for a job search on Worknet.

Link to Eligibility and Application Method for Job Seeker's Allowance

Then, visit your nearest Employment Center and apply for job seeker's allowance. After applying for eligibility recognition, you must apply for job seeker's allowance and conduct job searching within 12 months from the day after your resignation to receive unemployment benefits.