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Commuting and relocation allowance

The Unemployment Fund pays commuting and relocation allowance to its members. The allowance is designed to compensate for the commuting and removal costs of taking up a new job. You can also get the allowance for a period of orientation or training for a new job. The Unemployment Fund checks your entitlement to the allowance. Commuting and relocation allowance is a taxable benefit and must be applied for within three months of the start of employment or job-related training.

Commuting and relocation allowance condition:

    1.

  1. You receive earnings-related allowance, are about to start a new job and your return commuting trip takes over 2-3 hours from your current or former place of residence.

    2. 2.

  2.  Your new employment lasts at least two months.

    3. 3.

  3.  Your new job is paid employment.

Work done on a contract or invoicing basis is considered business activity and is not eligible for the allowance.

Time spent for commuting

You are entitled to commuting and relocation allowance if the time spent on your return commuting trip is over three hours a day. If you work part-time, the time spent on your return commuting trip must total over two hours a day.

Commuting time is calculated according to the fastest available means of transport. If the applicant has a car and if the car is considered the fastest means of transport, then the commuting time is calculated based on car usage. However, the Unemployment Fund cannot require the applicant to get a car.

An increase can be paid to the commuting and relocation allowance if your workplace (or the place where the job-related training is held) is over 200 km from your place of residence or your place of residence before you moved.

The amount and duration of commuting and relocation allowance

The amount of commuting and relocation allowance is always the same as basic unemployment allowance (37,21 € /day from 1 January 2023). A child increase can be added to the allowance. The benefit is paid for five days a week from the start of the employment. If you work part-time, the allowance is only paid for the days you work.

The duration of the allowance is determined according to the length of the applicant's employment. or job-related training.

  • The allowance is paid for 30 days if the employment or job-related training lasts for at least two months.
  • The allowance is paid for 45 days if the employment or job-related training lasts for at least three months.
  • The allowance is paid for 60 days if the employment or job-related training lasts for at least four months.

Commuting and relocation allowance can be paid for a maximum of two months regardless of how many days a week it is paid for. The duration of the grant is assessed from the time when the employment or job-related training begins. Therefore, possible changes that occur after the start of the employment do not extend the length of the allowance.