Unemployment What To Do?

Unemployment: What Now?

Losing one's job can be a drastic experience. Suddenly you find yourself in a completely new situation in which you first have to find your way around. Which official channels do I have to do, which financial aid am I entitled to, am I still insured? These and many other questions can be a source of concern and concern in the new situation. You can find answers to some of the questions here.

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• How is unemployment reported?
• When does unemployment have to be reported?
• What financial support is there?
• How do I best organize my job search?
• What is an unsolicited application?
• Do I have health insurance while I am unemployed?
• Can I apply for a prescription fee waiver?
• Can I earn extra while I'm unemployed?

How is unemployment reported?

The first and most important point of contact in the event of job loss is the Public Employment Service (AMS). There are offices in all federal states and larger cities.

In order to be officially unemployed, it is necessary to register with the AMS no later than the first day of unemployment. Which office is responsible depends on where you live.

It is best to report:

• via the e-AMS account,
• via the Internet using the AMS online service,
• by post or fax using a form,
• by phone or email to the AMS office responsible for you.

Note If you register as unemployed, you are not yet entitled to unemployment benefits or other financial support. A separate application must be made for this. For more information, see: Registering as unemployed with the AMS

You can find everything you need to know about unemployment in the AMS online guide.

When does unemployment have to be reported?

You must register with the AMS on the first day of unemployment at the latest. If the notification is made later, there may be gaps in the benefit receipt and in the health and pension insurance.

The best thing to do is to contact the AMS as soon as you know when the employment relationship will end - i.e. before you are unemployed. As a rule, it is sufficient to speak to the AMS in person within seven days of the start of unemployment. To clarify the exact modalities of the interview and application, it is recommended that you contact the Public Employment Service beforehand.

In order to better prepare for the initial interview at the labor market service, it is helpful to find out in advance which documents you need to bring with you. Since it can vary from person to person which documents are required, it is advisable to inquire with the AMS by telephone.

What financial support is there?

In addition to the “classic” unemployment benefit, there are various other financial benefits from the AMS that are due to you under certain conditions, such as emergency or bridging aid.

After your initial interview at the AMS, your personal advisor will be at your side with all questions relating to finances, job search and funding opportunities in the areas of qualification, employment and support. First of all, it will be clarified whether you are entitled to benefits from unemployment insurance. Even if you are not entitled to unemployment benefit, there are various other financial benefits from the AMS that can be granted to you under certain conditions. Your advisor will discuss this with you personally.

You can find an overview of possible services on the AMS website.

How do I best organize my job search?

In addition to the eJob-Room job portal offered by the AMS, other labor market policy advisory and support facilities (BBE, available from the respective AMS / federal state) can be helpful when looking for a job.

Ideally, you should use several information channels when looking for a job so as not to miss any offers. The Internet and most daily newspapers offer job boards and career supplements with job advertisements. Many online job portals provide free search agents in which you can save your personal search profile and are automatically informed about suitable vacancies. So you have a complete overview. Job searches can also be advertised free of charge on many portals.

Note As soon as you have found a job again, it is important to inform the AMS about it.

What is an unsolicited application?

With an unsolicited application, you write to a company without a specific position being advertised. Do not underestimate the effect of speculative applications: Here you can work out your skills and your interest in the company very well. If the unsolicited application does not immediately help you to find a job, it may be kept on record for a later advertised position.

Tip It is also good to inform the social environment about your own job search. This often results in contacts and opportunities that can help you get a good job.

Do I have health insurance while I am unemployed?

If you are entitled to unemployment benefit or unemployment assistance or to an allowance to cover living expenses (DLU), you - if applicable, your relatives as well - are automatically insured during the period of receipt. If you are not entitled to such support and there is no possibility of co-insurance with a relative, you must take out health insurance yourself.

You can obtain further information on this from your social security agency.

Can I apply for a prescription fee waiver?

Under unemployment, an exemption from the prescription fee and the service fee for the e-card can be applied for. The prerequisite is that the monthly net income of all people living in the house community does not exceed certain reference rates. Since unemployment benefits are only paid twelve times a year, the monthly net income is converted to 14 months. You must submit the application for exemption from prescription fees to your health insurance provider with the confirmation that you have received benefits.

You can obtain further information on exemption from prescription fees on request from the Austrian Social Insurance Office.

Can I earn extra while I'm unemployed?

In order to improve the financial situation during unemployment, you can also work lightly. Remember that any form of employment must be reported to the AMS. You should therefore speak to your AMS advisor beforehand.

In addition, volunteering or volunteering can be fun and make sense. This may result in new social contacts that can also be helpful when looking for a job. On the website www.freiwilligenweb.at you will find a list of all organizations where you can volunteer. Please discuss with your advisor whether and to what extent these activities can affect your benefit receipt.