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Job-seeking allowance is a type of unemployment benefit paid to workers who have become unemployed. In general, unemployment benefit refers to job-seeking allowance.
① Level of Job-Seeking Allowance: 50% of the daily average wage prior to unemployment is paid. Here, the daily average wage basis means the average wage calculated based on the date of separation. In other words, 50% of the average wage is paid, with maximum and minimum standards set for the daily average wage basis. If the daily average wage is 70,000 won or more, it is capped at 70,000 won (thus, the maximum job-seeking allowance is 35,000 won per day). If the unemployed person's wage is below the minimum wage, the minimum wage is applied.
② Payment Period: It is paid for 60 to 210 days depending on the insured period and age at the time of separation.
③ Application Period: There is no regulation on how long after separation one must apply for unemployment benefits, but since unemployment benefits are no longer paid if more than 10 months have passed from the date of separation—even if there are remaining prescribed benefit days—it is advantageous to apply immediately upon unemployment.
④ Extended Payment of Job-Seeking Allowance: Even after receiving all unemployment benefits, if the beneficiary attends vocational training or educational training as instructed by the head of the local labor office, the job-seeking allowance can be extended up to 2 years. Additionally, the waiting period for training and the job-seeking period after training completion can be combined and extended again within a range of 60 days. Therefore, if an unemployed person completes all unemployment benefits and undergoes vocational training, they can receive additional unemployment benefits for up to 2 years and 2 months.
⑤ Reduction of Job-Seeking Allowance: For a worker who qualifies to receive job-seeking allowance, if they have income from their own work or receive old-age pension or special old-age pension under the National Pension Act during the period they seek recognition of unemployment from the head of the employment security agency, the corresponding income amount is deducted from the job-seeking allowance amount to be paid.