Can I get unemployment benefit?
It depends on your stamps and how the contract ended. Unemployment benefit is granted by DYPA (formerly OAED) only under conditions: enough insurance stamps, termination with the employer's fault (not a voluntary resignation) and registration with DYPA. For the first time, you generally need 125 days of insurance in the 14 months before termination (excluding the last 2), with at least 80 days/year in the prior 2 years (or alternatively 200 days in the last 2 years). The basic benefit equals 55% of the unskilled worker's daily wage and, from 1 April 2026, is set at €564.98/month (plus 10% per dependent child). The duration is 5–12 months depending on stamps.
📋 The rules
- Enough stamps (e.g. 125 days/14 months or 200/2 years)
- Termination with the employer's fault, not resignation
- Registration with DYPA as unemployed
- Basic benefit: €564.98/month (from 1/4/2026)
- Duration 5–12 months by stamps
🔓 Exceptions
- Voluntary resignation: usually no entitlement
- +10% per dependent child
- Long-term unemployment: a separate €200/month benefit with conditions
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Unemployment benefit is a conditional right, not a sanction — but there are obligations. You must be registered as unemployed, available for work and respond to DYPA's calls. A voluntary resignation usually doesn't establish entitlement. If you earn income above the limits without declaring it, you can be asked to repay amounts. To get the benefit: confirm you have the required stamps, file the request with DYPA with the employer's certificate and documents within the deadline, and keep contact with the service. The amount and duration depend on your insurance history.
📎 Official sources
- DYPA — unemployment benefit →
- gov.gr — unemployment benefit →
- Ministry of Labour and Social Security →
❓ Frequently asked
Who is entitled to unemployment benefit?
Those with enough insurance stamps, whose contract ended with the employer's fault (not a voluntary resignation) and who registered as unemployed with DYPA. For the first time you generally need 125 days of insurance in the 14 months before termination, with at least 80 days/year in the prior two years.
How much is the unemployment benefit?
The basic benefit equals 55% of the unskilled worker's daily wage and, from 1 April 2026, is set at €564.98 a month. It's increased by 10% per dependent child. The old figure of about €509 referred to previous years.
How long does the benefit last?
The duration ranges from 5 to 12 months, depending on accumulated insurance days. The more stamps you have, the longer the payment period. There's also a separate long-term unemployment benefit of €200 a month, with its own conditions.
Am I entitled if I resign?
Usually no. Unemployment benefit is granted as a rule when the contract ends with the employer's fault, not by a voluntary resignation. Check your case with DYPA before assuming you're entitled, as the way the contract ended is decisive.
What obligations do I have as unemployed?
You must be registered as unemployed, available for work and respond to DYPA's calls. If you earn income above the limits without declaring it, you can be asked to repay amounts. Failing the obligations can lead to the benefit being stopped.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “unemployment benefit conditions 2026”
- “unemployment benefit amount 564”
- “stamps unemployment benefit 125 days”
- “dypa unemployment benefit”
- “unemployment benefit resignation”
- “unemployment benefit duration months”