Sorry if this question has already been asked and answered somewhere....but here goes.

I have accepted a job offer today and will be informing my RAV office in Zurich first thing in the morning of this, as I have been collecting unemployment.

My question is: the proposed start date for this new job is April 1st. How does it work with RAV in Zurich with respect to collecting unemployment until you start your new job? I heard that they can continue to pay up to 2 months of unemployment (or something like that) if your new job does not start right away. Obviously, they are not going to keep paying you if you just decide you want your work start date to be 6 months later, but what is the general rule?

Any info. on this would be greatly appreciated!

As far as I'm aware, if you've been offered a job, and accepted, you still have to demonstrate to the RAV that you're actively seeking work right up to the point that you start your new job in order to receive money.

You sort of answered your own question by saying you wsill go to the RAV in the morning. They will tell you chapter & verse what is what, they are the epitome of civil servants...

I would check with them, but I am pretty sure that they will pay you until you start, and you don't have to go for any appointments

As you know, so far as you are registered as unemployed you have to fill in the 10 questions every month. The last question on the form asks if you are still unemployed, and if not, when did you become employed. So far as you are still answering "yes" to this question, I believe you will get benefits.

And of course this form goes to the Arbeitlosenkasse, which is not the RAV.

Just thought to revive this thread to have a general knowledge about dealing with RAV.

Should we inform RAV right away about job offer if the job is not starting immediately? Would it affect the benefit payment as it makes little sense to apply but yet one does not have income until the start of the job...

Appreciate any feedback.

See #2, #3 and #5

Wait for a contract to be signed, you still have to try & get work even for a month or two, so nothing really changes. If you refuse a job there will be penalties.

I just want to make sure that it is alright to inform RAV that a permanent job is to start, say, 2 months from now but if they want of course I can "continue" applying for jobs for the coming two months to fulfil the requirements....

Thanks!

In Bern the RAV told me that in the case I signed a new contract I would be relieved of the obligation to look for work for the month leading up to it.
In my case I found a job in late April, that would start on the 1st of June. So I basically didn't have to continue looking for a job all May, and just went on a holiday in stead...
My case worker at the RAV was perfectly fine with that.

I assume you received full benefit for May?

And if your new job were to start in 1st of July...i suppose you need to continue searching for May, only June no need right?

what RAV wants to do, always: get you off their paycheque list. hence they want that you look for a job that covers the period until you start your new job.
thats rarely working, but it could be that you do. and for that anything goes: night portier 60% at a hotel, filling clerk at Migros... zwischenverdienst is the buzzword you should check up what that means. if any RAV agent is letting you off the hook... fine, lucky punch. its not the rule.