15.12.2021
HOW TO DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT
How is the amount of the unemployment benefit determined and are there any peculiarities for determining it in some individual cases?
The daily unemployment benefit is 60 percent of the average daily wage or the average daily insurance income on which insurance contributions have been paid or are due for the Unemployment Fund for the last 24 calendar months preceding the month of termination of insurance, and cannot be less than the minimum and greater than the maximum daily amount of the unemployment benefit determined by the State Social Insurance Budget Act for each calendar year.
The minimum and maximum amounts of the compensation determined for 2021 are BGN 12.00 and BGN 74.29, respectively.
When the period from which the average daily remuneration or the average daily insurance income is determined includes time which is considered as insurance length of service without social security contributions or during which the person is not insured for unemployment, when determining the insurance income:
- for the time of paid and unpaid leave for raising a child, of unpaid leave for temporary incapacity for work and for pregnancy and childbirth and of unpaid leave of up to 30 working days in one calendar year - the average daily minimum wage for the country for the respective period;
- for the period of paid leave for temporary incapacity for work and for pregnancy and childbirth, as well as leave for adoption of a child up to 5 years of age - the income from which the monetary compensation is determined under the legal relations under which the person is insured for unemployment;
- for the time, considered for insurance length of service under the legislation of another state on the basis of an international agreement to which the Republic of Bulgaria is a party - the average daily minimum wage established for the country for the respective period;
- for the time during which the person is not insured for unemployment - the average daily minimum wage for the country for the respective period.
Unemployment benefits are granted, amended, refused, suspended, terminated, resumed and restored by order of the official entrusted with the management of unemployment insurance or another official appointed by the head of the territorial division of the National Social Security Institute. The order shall be issued within 14 days from the acceptance of the application or from the declaration of the respective circumstances.
An official may amend or revoke an order which has entered into force where:
- new documents or evidence have been submitted that are relevant for determining the right, amount and period of monetary compensation;
- the monetary compensation was incorrectly granted or incorrectly refused.
The same official shall also issue an order for the recovery of bona fide and unscrupulously received unemployment benefits.
Reference:
Art. 54b, para 1 Social security code,
Art. 54b, para. 7 SSC
Art. 54g, para. 1-3, art. 54e, para. 4 SSC,
Art. 11 of the State Social Security Budget Act for 2021
Art. 5, para. 1 Ordinance for granting and payment of unemployment benefits
