How unemployment benefit is calculated
The contributory unemployment benefit (prestación contributiva por desempleo) depends on three things:
- Days contributed in the 6 years before losing your job: they determine whether you qualify (at least 360) and how long the benefit lasts.
- Regulatory base (base reguladora): the average of your unemployment contribution bases over the last 180 days, excluding overtime. Divided by 30, it gives the daily regulatory base.
- Dependent children: they don’t change the percentage, but they do change the minimum and maximum amounts.
You receive 70% of the regulatory base for the first 180 days and 60% from day 181. The result is adjusted to the caps, which are based on the monthly IPREM (a public income index: €600.00 in 2026) increased by one sixth (€700.00).
How long unemployment benefit lasts
| Days contributed (last 6 years) | Days of benefit |
|---|---|
| 360 to 539 | 120 days (4 months) |
| 540 to 719 | 180 days (6 months) |
| 720 to 899 | 240 days (8 months) |
| 900 to 1,079 | 300 days (10 months) |
| 1,080 to 1,259 | 360 days (12 months) |
| 1,260 to 1,439 | 420 days (14 months) |
| 1,440 to 1,619 | 480 days (16 months) |
| 1,620 to 1,799 | 540 days (18 months) |
| 1,800 to 1,979 | 600 days (20 months) |
| 1,980 to 2,159 | 660 days (22 months) |
| 2,160 or more | 720 days (24 months) |
2026 benefit caps
| Dependent children | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| None | €560.00 | €1,225.00 |
| One | €749.00 | €1,400.00 |
| Two or more | €749.00 | €1,575.00 |
Gross monthly amounts for full-time work. For part-time work they’re reduced in proportion to your hours.
Worked example
Someone with no children has contributed 1,000 days in the last 6 years, with an average contribution base of €2,000 a month.
- Duration: 1,000 days give 300 days of benefit (10 months).
- Daily regulatory base: 2,000 / 30 = €66.67.
- First 180 days: 70% = €1,400.00 a month, which is above the maximum with no children, so they get €1,225.00.
- After that: 60% = €1,200.00 a month.
- Total gross benefit: €12,150.00.
If you’ve been dismissed, also work out your severance pay and the final settlement your employer owes you.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need to have worked to claim unemployment benefit in Spain?
You need at least 360 days of unemployment contributions in the last 6 years, not already used for a previous claim. You also need to be legally unemployed: dismissed or at the end of a temporary contract. If you resign voluntarily, you generally aren’t entitled.
What is the maximum unemployment benefit in Spain in 2026?
€1,225.00 a month with no children, €1,400.00 with one child and €1,575.00 with two or more, for full-time work. These are gross amounts.
And the minimum?
€560.00 a month with no dependent children and €749.00 with at least one, for full-time work. If you worked part time, the caps are reduced in proportion to your working hours.
Why does the benefit drop after six months?
Because the law sets two rates: 70% of the regulatory base for the first 180 days and 60% from day 181. If your benefit was already at the maximum cap, the drop may be smaller or not noticeable.
Can foreigners claim unemployment benefit in Spain?
Yes. If you’ve worked and contributed in Spain under the Spanish Social Security system and meet the requirements, you’re entitled on the same terms as Spanish nationals. You must be registered as a job seeker and, if you’re not an EU citizen, hold a valid residence and work permit.
Do I keep paying Social Security while on unemployment benefit?
Yes. While you receive the contributory benefit, SEPE pays your Social Security contributions: it covers the employer’s share and deducts your share as a worker from the benefit. That time counts towards your pension.
Other calculators
- Net salary calculator: Gross to net pay in Spain: income tax withholding (IRPF), Social Security and your monthly take-home pay.
- Final settlement (finiquito) calculator: Last month’s salary, unused holidays, pending extra payments and severance when you leave a job in Spain.
- Severance pay calculator: Unfair dismissal, objective dismissal or end of a temporary contract under Spanish law, with legal caps.
- AI CV analyzer: check how well your CV matches a specific job offer and what to improve.