Unemployment Benefit Canada Sweden United Kingdom

Unemployment benefits are generally given only to those registering as unemployed, and often only conditions ensuring that they seek work and do not have a job.

1 Canada

In Canada the system is known as Employment Insurance, but until 1996 it was called Unemployment Insurance. Canadian workers pay into a central fund that contributors can draw on if later unemployed. The amount a person receives and how long they can stay on EI varies with their previous salary, how long they were working, and the unemployment rate in their area. The EI system is managed by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (formerly Human Resources Development Canada), a federal government department.

EI is especially important in the Atlantic provinces, which have higher rates of unemployment. Many Atlantic workers are also employed in seasonal work such as fishing and go on EI over the winter when there is no work.

An unemployment insurance program was first attempted during the Great Depression by the government of R.B. Bennett. It was, however, ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Canada as it was a provincial responsibility. After a constitutional amendment was passed the first Canadian system was established in 1940. The EI system was dramatically cut by the Liberals in the mid-1990s. This led to a sharp fall in Liberal support in the Atlantic in the 1997 election.

2 Sweden

In Sweden unemployment benefits are divided into a voluntary scheme with income related compensation up to a certain level and a comprehensive scheme that provides a lower level of basic support. The voluntary scheme requires a minimum of 12 months membership and a certain degree of employment during that time before any claims can be made. Employers pay a fee on top of the pre-tax income of its employees, which together with membership fees, fund the scheme. Private insurance is also available, mainly through professional organizations, to provide income related compensation that otherwise exceeds the ceiling of the scheme. The comprehensive scheme is funded by tax.

3 United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom there are two forms of unemployment benefit: Job Seekers Allowance (income-based) and Job Seekers Allowance (contribution-based). If a claimant has paid enough National Insurance contributions of the correct class in the two complete tax year s previous to the claim yearIn the United Kingdom welfare benefits system a claim year is the year in which a claim for benefits or tax credits is being made. It typically starts on the first Sunday in January. It is used to work out how much benefit a person may claim for. in which the claim is being made, and can prove that they are available for work and are actively seeking employment then they are entitled to contribution-based benefit. If not, and they have a low or no income they receive income-based benefit, but they still have to prove that they are available for and actively seeking work. Benefit levels are lower for those under 25 and to remain receiving benefit a claimant has to visit the Job Centre every two weeks, give details of how they have been looking for work (a "job seeker's diary" is provided), and sign a declaration that they are following their Job Seeker's Agreement (so called signing on).

For the full article see Job Seeker's AllowanceIn the United Kingdom Job Seeker's Allowance JSA is a form of unemployment benefit that is paid by the government to people who are unemployed and seeking work. It is part of the social security benefits system and is meant to cover the cost of living exp.

4 United States

In the United StatesThe United States of America also referred to as the United States U. America ¹ or the States is a federal republic in central North America, stretching from the Atlantic in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west. It shares land borders with Canada in there is Unemployment Insurance, a federalThe word ''federal in a general sense refers to the nature of an agreement between or among two or more states nations, or other groups to merge into a union in which control of common affairs is held by a central authority created by and with the consent prgram administered by the statesstate is any one of the 50 states which have membership of the federation known as the United States of America (USA or U. The separate state governments and the U. federal government share sovereignty. The United States Constitution allocates power betwe. The reason for leaving your last job must be "lack of work" or a determination of your benefits will be ordered. Payments to an eligible person are based on a percentage of the last 52 weeks' earnings, not to exceed a state maximum. It generally takes two weeks for checks to begin, the first being a "waiting week", which is not reimbursed, and the second being the time lag between eligibility for the program and the first check actually being paid. Federal rules are governed by the United States Department of LaborThe United States Department of Labor is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics. states also. In general, the maximum period for receiving benefits is 26 weeks, though the federal government may choose to extend the benefit period in difficult economic times.

Because it is a federal program run by the states taxing business for the benefit of labor, the politics of unemployment insurance are very complex. Generally speaking, Democrats are more likely to favor benefit increases than are Republicans, while Republicans are more likely to favor tax cuts than are Democrats.

The federal government loans money to the states for unemployment insurance when the states run short of funds. The combination of all the above circumstances led to the situation in many states where taxes were cut, benefits were increased, and the federal government was stuck with large debts.

Congressional actions to massively increase penalties for states incurring large debts for unemployment benefits led to state fiscal crises in the 1980's.

To calculate the unemployment insurance benefits you might receive in the United States, see the useful page at the Economic Policy Institute.

5 See also

unemployment, social right

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