Hi All,

Let me first introduce myself my name is Mark.

Can anyone help me here. I need to return to France for a few weeks where my daughter lives. Does anyone know if this is allowed, ie would my payment cease for good or is it possible to not get paid for the time in France and resume when I return. My RAV runs out towards the end of 2013.

thanks

Mark

This is really decided by your RAV councellor. If it is longer than your holiday entitlement, it would be unpaid of course, but with my experience on the RAV, it is possible.

You could look for work in France for upto 3 months & receive your benefits in France.

I think to do this you have to have been on the RAV for a minimum of one month and you have to prove and look for work in France in order to get the benefit. At the end of the three months, you can choose whether you stay in France and down the French unemployment route or come back to Switzerland and continue the RAV. While in France you are technically still resident in Switzerland, ie for the Krankenkasse etc.

You can accumulate one week's holiday per 3 months RAV received

You can take this in a block i.e. 3 weeks after 9 months

You will not have to be available on 24hrs notice during this time and can go where you wish

You will still have to apply for the relevant number of jobs per month that your RAV dude/dude-ette has agreed with you

whilst on holiday you don't have to apply for any jobs at all!

Let me precise something.

During the RAV 'hollydays' or 'uncontrolled days' you DO NOT GET PAID. Means that even if you are allowed to take some 'hollydays' those are not paid days that will be discounted from your payments.

Not true, you are paid 1 weeks holiday after receiving 3 months of benefits. I have no idea where you get your info from.

You can take unpaid holiday as well if you want!

If you do do work whilst in a rahemnfrist, you probably won't get paid as you have not received benefits, you receive holiday pay instead.

So I would continue to pay my health insurance in Switzerland and move back after 3 months. Am I understanding this correctly

I have no idear what sort of work permit you have so can't advise at all. How long does it say you can be away?if it's max 3 months you have to come back at least a day before the 3 months is over.

Yes, I have a B permit until 2014. Does 3 months still apply?

What is written on the back of your permit?

What exactly should I be looking for. There is a lot of text there?

The bit that tells you how long you can be away for without invalidating the premit!

The duration is 6 months so if I stay away for up to 6 months and continue to pay health insurance in Switzerland. I am only planning up to 3 months max.

Sounds ok then!