Can I get unemployment benefit?
It depends on your contribution record: yes, if you've contributed enough. To get unemployment benefit, you must have a contribution record of at least 12 months in the last 24 months before the request and earn no income (or income below the social reference indicator). The amount: for a record of at least 1 year, the benefit equals the value of the Social Reference Indicator (660 lei); for longer records, a percentage applied to the average income of the last 12 months is added (3% over 3 years, 5% over 5, 7% over 10, 10% over 20). The duration differs by seniority: 6 months (over 1 year), 9 months (over 5 years), 12 months (over 10 years). The request is filed with ANOFM/AJOFM. In short: yes, if you have at least 12 months of contributions in the last 2 years.
📋 The rules
- Contribution record of at least 12 months in the last 24
- Earn no income above the social reference indicator
- Base amount: the value of the SRI (660 lei) + a percentage by seniority
- Duration: 6 months (>1 year), 9 months (>5 years), 12 months (>10 years)
- The request is filed with ANOFM/AJOFM
🔓 Exceptions
- Income from authorised activities below the SRI: can be compatible
- Graduates with no record: special regime, different benefit
- Resignation: can affect the right (check the termination grounds)
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Unemployment benefit is a conditional right, not a sanction. But watch the obligations: you must register as unemployed, be available for work, attend the AJOFM summons and not refuse a suitable job without justification — otherwise you can lose the benefit. Also, if you earn income above the allowed threshold without reporting it, you can be ordered to repay the amounts. To get the benefit: check you have 12 months of contributions in the last 24, file the file with AJOFM with the seniority and income statement, observe the registration deadline after the contract ends and keep contact with the agency. The amount and duration depend on your seniority.
📎 Official sources
- Law 76/2002 on the unemployment insurance system →
- ANOFM · National Agency for Employment →
- Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity →
❓ Frequently asked
Who can get unemployment benefit?
People who have a contribution record of at least 12 months in the last 24 months before the request and who earn no income or income below the social reference indicator. The request is filed with the employment agency (ANOFM/AJOFM).
How much is unemployment benefit?
For a record of at least one year, the benefit equals the value of the Social Reference Indicator (660 lei). For longer records, a percentage applied to the average income of the last 12 months is added: 3% over 3 years, 5% over 5, 7% over 10 and 10% over 20 years.
How long is the benefit paid?
The duration depends on seniority: 6 months for people with at least one year of contributions, 9 months for those with over 5 years and 12 months for a record over 10 years. The longer the contribution record, the longer the benefit is granted.
Can I get unemployment benefit if I resign?
Resignation can affect the right to benefit, since the reason for the contract's termination matters. Unemployment benefit is usually granted to people who lost their job through no fault of their own. Check your specific situation with AJOFM before assuming you're entitled to benefit.
What obligations do I have as a benefit claimant?
You must register as unemployed, be available for work, attend the AJOFM summons and not refuse a suitable job without justification. Failing these obligations, or earning income above the allowed threshold without reporting it, can lead to losing the benefit or repaying the amounts.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “unemployment benefit conditions 2026”
- “contribution record 12 months unemployment”
- “unemployment amount sri 660 lei”
- “unemployment duration 6 9 12 months”
- “unemployment after resignation”
- “unemployment file documents anofm”