Ok,

So we're not there yet, but with 300 days paid out and just 100 days left we just passing the 3/4 mark.

The wife just asked if we would still get an allowance for the kids when unemployment stops; I guess we would I said; I dont think is means tested...

Anybody out there experienced zero day on the unemployment benefit scale yet?

Mark

what I can tell you is that you'll get the tax allowance for them still.

Hopefully someone can tell you more on the worst case scenario - hopefully you never find out

What I've heard is that certain cantons have a hardship fund which you might be able to access. Anyway I wish you all the best in finding something soon.

Hi Mark

Sorry to hear that you are three quarters of the way there . Not sure that what I have to add will be helpful but here is our situation.

Hubby reached the 400 day mark in April. Because I work and we don't have children it was "bye bye, good luck" however had I not been working he would have received a minimum social security of about 4k I believe.

Good luck and hang in there, things are looking up (or so we keep telling ourselves)

Nats

4000K? that is 4000.000 great income

Oops, fixed that

Don't wish to hijack but how long would you have to work for again before it is reactivated at day one?

To reactivate- one year!

Mark, you speak French and English.... why are you trying to survive in Zug ? seriously, have you tried the French speaking part of Switzerland ?

Before thinking of Singapore, try applying in Geneva and mention in your CV that you'll be moving shortly. Once you find a job, move quickly to the new city.

I wouldn't try and learn a high level of German, change environment instead.

Once your 400 days are up, you can apply for welfare. They'll ask you to pull down your pants and will rumage around as much as they like to satisfy themselves you have no hidden treasure from which you could live on. Eventually you'll get a basic_basic allowance, from which all outgoings must be justified. It ain't glamourous but it's not the end of the world. Don't fear day 401, just ask in advance what you need to do as paperwork and red tape in Switzerland can be painfully slow or super efficient. Either way, you'll want to have everything in order in advance, so at least your end is covered.

Again, don't panic about day 401. Keep your head up.

That 4K is well more than a single person would get. For a single person I believe it's something like a thousand a month plus medical insurance plus rent, and there are limits on the rent (dependent on area) they will pay. I have no idea what a married couple with kids would get.

As Uncle Max says, they will want to see that you don't have shares or a hidden stash somewhere; I imagine this could be tricky if you have property outside Switzerland, for it might not be easy to sell. They'll also try and get family members to support you if they can.

If you come into an inheritance you can be asked to pay back welfare received.

Have no direct experience, but doubt that child allowances continue after unemployment benefits cease. The allowance is available to a working parent. An unemployment beneficiary is pseudo-employed for social security purposes, and pays the AHV/BVG contributions.

More accurately, it is 12 months + 1 day.

But I am still wondering whether authorities are entitled to invaldidate one's residence permit once you have exhausted unemployment benefits or as soon as you are claiming social benefits.

Now there a thought? Does it make sense? Cause if you have more the 20K in the bank then you will not be able to claim social security benefits right?

And assuming you do have assets in the bank then even if you are not liable for income tax, you would be liable for weath tax.

Course by the time you do qualify for social security you would likely not be able to afford to move any of your belongings out of the country with you too.

I think the answer to the question maybe tied up with your nationality and circumstances, with a sliding scale. EU with kids I would imagine would be pretty low down on the list, with say single, non EU at the top.