| Waiting period for unemployment benefits From KELA site, December 2006: Unemployment allowance becomes payable after the unemployed claimant has been registered with an employment office as unemployed for a total of seven not necessarily consecutive workdays. The waiting period begins with the registration day, or, if a worker registers before becoming unemployed, with the first day of unemployment, but in any case not before the unemployed person has reached age 17. Persons working shorter hours or in part-time employment must complete a waiting period equivalent to seven full days of unemployment. The total number of days in each calendar week which a person can be either employed, on waiting period, unemployed or receiving a daily allowance or compensation is five. Completion of the waiting period is only required once for each maximum period of eligibility (500 days). |