If you become unemployed or laid off, register with the TE Office as an unemployed job seeker on your first day of unemployment (at the very latest). Also, register as an unemployed job seeker if your employer has converted your job into a part-time job. You can register even before your unemployment begins. Once you have registered as an unemployed job seeker, keep your job seeker status active by following the TE Office’s instructions. The Unemployment Fund can set your waiting period and pay daily allowance only while your job seeker status has been active.
After about two weeks of unemployment, you can apply for unemployment benefits from the Unemployment Fund or Kela. As a member of the Unemployment Fund for Higher Educated Employees Erko, you will send your application to Erko. You can apply for daily allowance online or by sending the Fund an application by mail. Fill in the application with care and enclose the necessary attachments. Filling out your application properly can speed up its processing time.
Fill in your application beginning with your first day of unemployment so the Fund can determine your possible waiting period. As your unemployment continues, fill in your application either monthly or every 4-calendar weeks (Monday through Sunday). Apply for daily allowance within 3 months of the period you are applying for. Applications that are more than 3 months old are considered late and will be rejected.
Inform the Fund of any changes that happen during your unemployment and that could affect your right to daily allowance such as work, earned income, entrepreneurship, studies, sick leave, or social benefits granted to your family. If necessary, also inform the TE Office of relevant changes such as work, entrepreneurship, studies, or sick leave.
Registering with the TE Office
The preferred way to activate your job seeker status with the TE Office is through the TE Office’s E-service, either with your online banking codes or an identity card with a chip. If you do not have online banking codes or an identity card with a chip, then you can activate your job seeker status by personally contacting the TE Office.