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How much unemployment benefit you are entitled to depending on the time worked

How long unemployment benefit lasts depends on the days of contributions in the last 6 years. Type in the dates of your contract and, if you wish, those of other jobs, and you will see how many days you are entitled to.

How do you want to start?

You can upload the documents your employer has given you to fill in the details with what is read from them, or type them in yourself. Before anything is calculated, you review each detail.

The unemployment benefit scale by time worked

Updated: October 2026Sources: Estatuto de los Trabajadores (BOE) · CGPJ guide v0.6 · Ley General de la Seguridad Social (BOE) · SEPE amountsWho is behind this

The full scale

How long unemployment benefit (paro) lasts depends on the days of unemployment contributions in the previous 6 years that you have not already used for another period of benefit (art. 269.1 LGSS). All your jobs in that time count, not just the last one.

Days of contributions in the last 6 years and days of benefit.

Days of contributionsDays of benefitMonths
From 360 to 5391204
From 540 to 7191806
From 720 to 8992408
From 900 to 1.07930010
From 1.080 to 1.25936012
From 1.260 to 1.43942014
From 1.440 to 1.61948016
From 1.620 to 1.79954018
From 1.800 to 1.97960020
From 1.980 to 2.15966022
2.160 or more72024

With fewer than 360 days of contributions there is no contributory benefit. Untaken holiday paid in the final settlement also counts as days of contributions (art. 269.4 LGSS).

Art. 269 LGSS

Examples: from 6 months to 6 years

A single contract ending on 31 August 2026, with no other jobs in the previous 6 years and no other unemployment benefit received:

Time worked, days of contributions and unemployment benefit.

Time workedDays of contributionsDays of benefit
6 months184Does not reach 360
1 year365120 (4 months)
2 years730240 (8 months)
3 years1.096360 (12 months)
6 years2.191720 (24 months)

With 6 months you do not reach the 360 days, but if you worked elsewhere in the previous 6 years, those days add up. That is why the calculator asks you about other jobs and links you to your employment history (vida laboral), which shows all your days of contributions.

The amount for each month is in Calculate how much unemployment benefit you will receive.

Frequently asked questions

How many days of contributions do you need to receive unemployment benefit?

At least 360 days of unemployment contributions in the previous 6 years that you have not already used for another unemployment benefit (arts. 266 and 269.1 LGSS). They can come from several jobs.

How much unemployment benefit am I entitled to for 6 months worked?

Six months does not reach the 360 days required for the contributory benefit. If you worked elsewhere in the last 6 years, those days can be added until you reach it (art. 269.1 LGSS).

How much unemployment benefit builds up per year worked?

From 360 to 539 days of contributions (around a year) give 120 days of unemployment benefit. From there, each further 180 days of contributions adds 60 days of benefit, up to the maximum of 720 days with 2.160 days of contributions (art. 269.1 LGSS).

Does untaken holiday count?

Yes. Holiday paid in the final settlement and not taken counts as days of contributions (art. 269.4 LGSS), so it can add a little to the total.