What is unemployment benefit (paro) in Spain and how does it work?
Unemployment benefit (paro) is the Spanish contributory unemployment benefit paid by SEPE. You need at least 12 months of contributions in the last 6 years and an involuntary job loss. Amount and duration depend on your contribution record.
Quick answer
- Who qualifies: involuntary job loss with at least 12 months of contributions in the last 6 years.
- Amount: 70 percent of your regulatory base for the first 6 months, then 60 percent.
- Duration: 4 to 24 months depending on contributions in the last 6 years.
- Application deadline: 15 working days from the end of your contract.
NAVI
Describe the benefit situation
NAVI will check your right and deadline.
Check your right to unemployment benefit (paro)
NAVI will review your contributions, job ending reason and deadline, and tell you exactly what you qualify for.
Check my unemployment benefit (paro) rightContribution months to unemployment benefit (paro) duration
| Months of contributions | Unemployment benefit (paro) duration |
|---|---|
| 12-17 | 4 months |
| 18-23 | 6 months |
| 24-29 (2 yrs) | 8 months |
| 30-35 | 10 months |
| 36-41 (3 yrs) | 12 months |
| 42-47 | 14 months |
| 48-53 (4 yrs) | 16 months |
| 54-59 | 18 months |
| 60-65 (5 yrs) | 20 months |
| 66-71 | 22 months |
| 72 (6 yrs) | 24 months max |
What to do first
- Check your work history to confirm at least 12 months of contributions in the last 6 years.
- Verify the reason for leaving work: it must be involuntary. Redundancy, contract end, constructive dismissal.
- Count 15 working days from your contract end date. This is your application deadline.
- Download your work history from the social security website to confirm contribution periods.
Documents and evidence
- DNI/NIE/TIE or passport.
- SEPE/INSS decision, application receipt or expediente number.
- Work history report (vida laboral), contribution days, income documents and bank details.
Deadlines and risk
- Voluntary resignation does not give you the right to unemployment benefit (paro), except for specific legal exceptions.
- Filing more than 15 working days late: unemployment benefit (paro) starts from the application date, not the contract end.
- Wrong termination reason on the employer certificate: SEPE rejects even with enough contributions.
- Contribution gaps in the last 6 years: only months actually contributed in this period count.
- SEPE calculates on its own data. Your estimate may differ from the official calculation.
Lost unemployment benefit (paro) or have a dispute with SEPE?
Tell NAVI what happened. Get a specific plan: appeal, correction or new application.
Resolve my SEPE issueRelated pages
Information only, not legal advice. Public authorities, courts, banks and companies make their own decisions.
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