Hi there,

Does anyone have experience with getting unemployment in Switzerland, what one must do initially and thereafter? I have been given notice that I'm being let go from my job in Geneva.

Thank you.

Sorry to hear you're joining the ranks of the unemployed.

Doing a search on the forum comes up with these threads about being unemployed:

RAV registration and benefit payable.

Unemployment RAV First Meeting - Translator? [Basel]

Unemployment benefits - can we qualify - need advice

What if unemployed? Any benefits?

will RAV pay even when looking for part time work?

Unemployment benefit

Unemployment Insurance

Redundancy package and RAV Benefits

I just got laid off

If you use the search feature, you'll find more depending on the search word you use. As you can see, it is a popular topic these days

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Thanks for your reply. Do you have any idea what happens if I have not contributed in 12 out of the last 24 months? I moved to Geneva in October. Am I ineligible automatically because of that?

Thanks again.

if you worked in the EU that will count. you need something called a E101 or E301 declaration from that country. it has been covered in other threads here.

Thanks Bill.

The previous work was in the US. Am I out of luck?

yip. but you should talk to them.

I need to be advised on how to get unemployment benefit. I was made redundant end of May so I got paid for another 3 months by my previous company. During those 3 months I was getting paid I looked for a job only during 1 month, the first month, then I started to look for a job right after I was no longer officially paid by my previous company. So I registered as unemployed by the RAV a month and a half after I was officially unemployed. The RAV sent a letter to the Amt fuer Wirtschaft und Arbeit saying that I had not made enough efforts to look for a job and have not submitted prove of that ( I didn´t know of course that I had to look for a job then as well) so the Amt told me that I am will be punished because I have not made enough effort whilst being paid by my company but knowing I was going to be unemployed. I might just not get paid during the first two months of unemployment.

Is there a way to rebate this???

Question: Is there any lawyers I can go to that help citizens for free on this subject please?

Yes, if you have a legal liability insurance from any private company they will help, however, the procedure takes a long time...With RAV beware even if you miss one appointment with your counselor it may cost you up to 16 days....but depends on the kanton where u live....here in the french part there are a bit relaxed, whereas in the german part you need to follow their instructions very,, and I repeat, very closely.
If you do not have the money take the decision to the Sozialamt and they can help u out for the two moths......Bear in mind that the unemployment insurance is running a deficit of 5 billion CHF so they are keen on every franc

Thank you so much for your help! :-) I don´t have (I think) a liability insurance, what I got was the 3 month paid as a period of 3 month notice. So say I was fired end of May paid till end of August and came to the RAV in the mid October to register unemployed. They asked me for proofs of my efforts to look for a job. I showed them that for the months of June, Sept. and Oct only. The RAV sent a letter to the Wirtschafts Amt and this organisation is saying I am not entitle of this two months sept and oct, to get any money unless I show a reasonable excuse. Is there anything I can say or do in order to get the money for Sept or Oct?

Yes, you have two options, 1. show that you applied to jobs in that period even if it is by email, but you need some proof, they ask for 10 to 15 application for every month, talk to your friends, they can give you a confirmation that you send a blind application.
2. Reasonable excuse, is only illness, accident or perhaps education. In all cases you would need some proof.
Option 1 is easier since you can still do it and go to RAV and say you did not know that this counts as looking for a job effort, again you need proof but it can be easily arranged if you know some people, even a local shop, bar can give you a stamp on the paper

Legally, the moment you receive notice from your employer you should inform the RAV (at the end of May) you should from this date be looking for relevant jobs, you should write about 10 job applications per month.

You then complete the RAV form at the end of each month stating whom you wrote to, their telephone number, about which job, and what was the result. The RAV will usually check up on your information!

The RAV has to work to various government laws, and these can be quite tough. If you don't apply, and be continuously active in your search you are penalised by the loss of unemployment pay during working days. The RAV month can be 20 to 23 days.

I was unemployed for 3 years in Be, Fr, VD, Ge. At no time did I find the RAV unhelpful or unkind. They have to keep to the rules as well.

If you kept a copy of all the jobs you applied to, you would be able to appeal their decision, by completing the forms, one for each month.
You don't need a lawyer, just go back to the RAV, complete their forms and ask for an interview. Then explain where you have a problem.

Applying for less than 6 jobs a month is not acceptable. Your new job is to find a job!

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