How unemployment benefit is calculated
Updated: October 2026Sources: Estatuto de los Trabajadores (BOE) · CGPJ guide v0.6 · Ley General de la Seguridad Social (BOE) · SEPE amountsWho is behind this
70 % and then 60 %
Unemployment benefit (paro), the contributory unemployment benefit (prestación contributiva por desempleo), is calculated on your benefit base (base reguladora): the average of the unemployment contributions paid in the last 180 days, without overtime (art. 270.1 LGSS). You receive 70 % of that base for the first 180 days and 60 % from day 181 (art. 270.2 LGSS).
Each month has a minimum and a maximum depending on your dependent children (art. 270.3 LGSS). In 2026, with the IPREM (the public income reference index) at 600 €, they are these:
- With no dependent children, between 560 € and 1.225 € a month.
- With one, between 749 € and 1.400 €.
- With two or more, between 749 € and 1.575 €.
Art. 270 LGSS
How much unemployment benefit you receive on a payslip of 1.300, 1.500 or 1.800 €
Gross unemployment benefit a month with pay in 14 equal payments and full-time hours, in 2026, rounded to the euro as in the calculator.
| Gross pay a month | 1.300 € | 1.500 € | 1.800 € |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benefit base (base reguladora) | 1.517 € | 1.750 € | 2.100 € |
| First 180 days, no children | 1.062 € | 1.225 € | 1.225 € |
| First 180 days, with one | 1.062 € | 1.225 € | 1.400 € |
| First 180 days, with two or more | 1.062 € | 1.225 € | 1.470 € |
| From day 181, no children | 910 € | 1.050 € | 1.225 € |
The base comes from the annual pay, including the extra payments, divided by 12: with 1.500 € in 14 payments, 21.000 € / 12 = 1.750,00 €, and 70 % of it is exactly the maximum with no dependent children. With 1.800 € the base is 2.100,00 € and 70 % of it goes above the maximums with no children and with one, so in those cases you receive the maximum.
These are gross figures. From them, 4,85 % of the base is deducted for the Seguridad Social, plus whatever IRPF (income tax) applies. With part-time hours the figures are lower, and the calculator does not give them.
Who can receive it
The contract has to end in a legal situation of unemployment: for example, a dismissal or the end of a fixed-term contract that you did not end yourself (art. 267 LGSS). You also need at least 360 days of contributions in the last 6 years, to register as a jobseeker and to sign the activity agreement (acuerdo de actividad), among other requirements (art. 266 LGSS).
- How long it lasts depending on your contributions: How much unemployment benefit you are entitled to depending on the time worked.
- If you are the one leaving: Is there unemployment benefit if you resign?
- If you are dismissed for misconduct: Unemployment benefit after a disciplinary dismissal.
Without registering as a jobseeker there is no unemployment benefit: you register with your region’s employment service and apply to SEPE within the 15 days after the contract ends, or after the end of the untaken holiday paid in your final settlement (arts. 266 and 268 LGSS). SEPE states that these are business days.
Arts. 266 · 267 · 268 LGSS
If you are in an ERTE
An ERTE (temporary lay-off scheme) can also give entitlement to unemployment benefit while it lasts. How much you receive and whether it uses up your future unemployment benefit depend on the type of ERTE: calculate your unemployment benefit during an ERTE.
Arts. 262 · 267 LGSS, DA 41.ª · 46.ª
Frequently asked questions
How much unemployment benefit am I entitled to?
70 % of your benefit base (base reguladora) for the first 180 days and 60 % after that (art. 270.2 LGSS). The base is the average of the unemployment contributions paid in the last 180 days, without overtime (art. 270.1 LGSS). In 2026 each month comes to between 560 € and 1.575 € gross, depending on your dependent children.
Is unemployment benefit calculated gross or net?
The figures are gross. From them, 4,85 % of the base is deducted for the Seguridad Social (Orden PJC/297/2026), plus whatever IRPF (income tax) applies. This calculator does not give a net figure.
What is the maximum unemployment benefit in 2026?
With the IPREM at 600 €, the maximum is 1.225 € a month with no dependent children, 1.400 € with one and 1.575 € with two or more; the minimum is 560 € with no children and 749 € with any (art. 270.3 LGSS and SEPE amounts).
Which ways of leaving a job give a right to unemployment benefit?
Any dismissal and the end of a fixed-term contract that you did not end yourself are a legal situation of unemployment; resignation is not, with some exceptions (art. 267 LGSS).
What is the time limit to apply for unemployment benefit?
Within the 15 days after the end of the contract, or after the end of the untaken holiday paid in the final settlement, and before that you have to register as a jobseeker (demandante de empleo). Applying later takes days off your unemployment benefit (arts. 266 and 268 LGSS). The SEPE states that these are business days (días hábiles).