Those EU Nationals with a Maltese working record, may claim Unemployment Benefit by registering for work under Part 1 with Malta’s employment agency Jobsplus.
Each social security contribution paid in Malta is equivalent to one (1) day of unemployment benefit. This benefit is paid for a maximum of 6 months, although this also depends on how long the claimant has been working in Malta.
To claim Unemployment Benefit, one must first register as a jobseeker with Jobsplus. Moreover, when a claimant does not have the required social security contributions to qualify for unemployment benefit, the Department of Social Security will need to confirm periods of insurance and employment or self-employment in another EU country to be taken into account for the award of unemployment benefits. To hasten this process, a claimant may produce a U1 form to certify the periods of insurance and employment or self-employment in these past two (2) years in another EU country.
The Department of Social Security would also need the FS3s, which is the payee’s final statement of earnings provided by the employer for the period that the claimant has worked in Malta.
Furthermore, should a claimant wish to look for a job in another country while being in receipt of unemployment benefit, under certain conditions the claimant may export the unemployment benefit for a limited period of time once, while:
A claimant must have registered under Jobsplus for at least four (4) weeks after becoming unemployed. The underlying idea is that the claimant should first exhaust all possibilities of finding a new job in Malta before extending search in other countries.
The institution claimant is registered as a jobseeker and must provide a U2 document, which is an authorisation to export your unemployment benefits, allowing the claimant to export unemployment benefit.
Within seven (7) days after departing from Malta, the claimant must register with the employment services of the country in which he is looking for a job. The Claimant must comply with the obligations and the control procedures organised by the employment services of that country one is moving to.
The Claimant will then be entitled to receive the unemployment benefit for a period of 3 months from the date one ceased to be available to Jobsplus. The Department of Social Security may extend this period for up to a maximum of 6 months, by applying with a U015 (Extension Period of Export). However, the claimant must provide proof that one has good prospects of finding a job.
Please click here for a Schedule of Benefits Rates.
Once a person starts registering with Jobsplus under Part I of the Unemployment Register, the claim for the payment of Unemployment Benefit is initiated automatically.
