Unemployment remains a harsh reality for many Greek workers, and unemployment benefits often serve as a crucial lifeline during periods of joblessness. Starting April 1, 2026, Greece will implement a new unemployment benefit scheme, expanding coverage and increasing potential payouts.
Who Can Receive Unemployment Benefits Again
Workers may qualify for unemployment benefits a second time if they meet specific conditions:
- They must have worked at least 125 days (or 100 days for construction workers) with contributions to the unemployment insurance fund within the 14 months preceding job termination, excluding the last two months.
- They must not have received more than 400 daily benefits in the previous four years. If they received fewer than 400 days, they can claim benefits for the remaining days up to the maximum.
- Applicants must be insured under the unemployment branch of OAED (the Greek Manpower Employment Organization).
- Benefits are only available following termination of employment by the employer or the expiration of a fixed-term contract—not for voluntary resignations.
- Recipients cannot be self-employed and must have unemployed status at the time of application.
New Benefit Levels
The pilot phase of the revised benefit, which included 12,500 unemployed individuals, will end in early March 2026. From April 1, the program will be available nationwide.
Under the new system, monthly benefits may reach up to €1,295, depending on the recipient’s years of insurance and prior earnings. The reform aims to provide stronger financial support during unemployment, particularly for those who have exhausted previous benefit periods but remain eligible under the revised criteria.
