Unemployment Benefits | Easy to Find, Practical Law

Special extended benefits

What are special extended benefits?

- "Special extended benefits” refers to extra job-seeking benefits paid to eligible recipients, in addition to the specified number of days for which benefits are payable, for a period for which they obtain recognition of unemployment, under circumstances such as a rapid rise in unemployment and the like. (Article 53(1) of the Employment Insurance Act)

Payment of special extended benefits

Reason for payment of special extended benefits

- An eligible recipient may receive extra job-seeking benefits in the event of occurrence of the following: (Body part of Article 53(1) of the Employment Insurance Act, Article 74 of the Enforcement Decree of the Employment Insurance Act)

· Where the result of having the number of those receiving job-seeking benefits (excluding the number of those receiving training/individual/special extended benefits) divided by the number of insured workers at the end of each month exceeds 1% for two months in a row or exceeds 3% for three months in a row

· Where the percentage of monthly applicants for eligibility exceeds 1% for three months in a row (and it is expected that such a situation will continue for the time being)

· Where the percentage of monthly unemployment exceeds 6% for three months in a row (and it is expected that such a situation will continue for the time being)

· Where the Employment Policy Deliberation Committee has decided that it is necessary to pay special extended benefits due to an abruptly worsening employment situation due to a rapid rise in unemployment

※ "Insured worker" means either of the following persons: (Article 2(1) of the Employment Insurance Act)

· A worker, artist, or labor provider who is insured or deemed to be insured under Article 5(1) and (2), 6(1), 8(1) and (2), 48-2(1) and 48-3(1) of the Act on the Collection of Insurance Premiums, etc. for Employment Insurance and Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance

· A self-employed who is insured or deemed to be insured under Article 49-2(1) and (2) of the Act on the Collection of Insurance Premiums, etc. for Employment Insurance and Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance

Those excluded from the payment of special extended benefits

- Eligible recipients with income which higher than a given level for stabilization of livelihood after severance from employment, who fall under the following category shall be excluded from the payment of special extended benefits. (Article 53(1) of the Employment Insurance Act, Article 97 of the Enforcement Rules of the Employment Insurance Act)

· An eligible recipient who got paid 24 months (730 days) worth of money and valuables of the maximum amount of daily wage whatever the name is at the time of severance from employment

· An eligible recipient who intends not to receive special extended benefits due to employment training allowance exceeding special extended benefits

Special extended benefits’ period

- Special extended benefits may be paid up to 60 days. (Article 53(1) of the Employment Insurance Act)

- Where special extended benefits are payable, the benefit period of an eligible recipient shall be computed by adding the number of days of additional benefits payable to the regular benefit period of the eligible recipient. (Article 54(1) of the Employment Insurance Act)

Daily amount of special extended benefits

- Daily amount of special extended benefits shall be 70% of the eligible recipient’s daily amount of job-seeking benefits. (Article 54(2) of the Employment Insurance Act)

- If the computed daily amount of job-seeking benefits is lower than the minimum daily amount of job-seeking benefits, the minimum daily amount of job-seeking benefits shall be the eligible recipient’s daily amount of job-seeking benefits. (Article 54(3) of the Employment Insurance Act)

Method of payment of special extended benefits

- Where the head of the employment center is to pay special extended benefits, he/she shall inform the eligible recipient of it in advance and provide the recipient with a certificate of eligibility including the recognition of unemployment day at the time of paying the said benefit. (Article 96 of the Enforcement Rules of the Employment Insurance Act)

Adjustment of special extended benefits

Mutual adjustment of special extended benefits

- Any special extended benefits shall be payable after regular job-seeking benefits to which an eligible recipient is entitled to have been fully paid. (Article 55(1) of the Employment Insurance Act)

- No special extended benefits may be payable to an eligible recipient currently receiving special extended benefits until such extended training benefits have been fully paid. (Article 55(3) of the Employment Insurance Act)

- No special extended benefits shall be payable to an eligible recipient currently receiving individual extended benefits until such individual extended benefits have been fully paid. (Article 55(4) of the Employment Insurance Act)

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