Free tool
Swiss unemployment benefit calculator
Estimate the daily allowance (Taggeld) and monthly amount you could receive from Swiss unemployment insurance (ALV), plus how many daily allowances you are entitled to and your waiting days. The estimate uses the official SECO / arbeit.swiss rules.
How Swiss unemployment benefit is calculated
Your benefit is based on your insured earnings — the average gross salary you earned before becoming unemployed, capped by law. A daily allowance is 70% or 80% of those earnings, converted to a daily basis. The number of daily allowances you can draw depends on how long you paid contributions, your age and whether you support children.
The rules in brief
- Rate: 80% of insured earnings if you support children, your insured earnings are at most 3'797 CHF/month, or you draw a disability pension of at least 40% — otherwise 70%.
- Insured earnings are capped at 12'350 CHF per month (148'200 CHF per year). Below 500 CHF per month, no benefit is paid.
- The daily allowance is your monthly insured earnings ÷ 21.7 × the rate. A month is paid as 21.7 daily allowances.
- Maximum daily allowances depend on your contribution period, age and children — from 200 up to 520 within a 2-year framework period.
- A general waiting period (usually 5 days) applies before benefit starts; longer special waiting periods apply to people exempt from the contribution requirement.
Important
This is an informational estimate, not an official decision. The actual amount is determined by your unemployment fund (Arbeitslosenkasse) based on your complete file. ApplyCH is an independent service and is not affiliated with the RAV/ORP/URC, SECO or any Swiss authority.
Frequently asked questions
How much unemployment benefit will I get in Switzerland?
You receive 70% or 80% of your insured earnings as a daily allowance. The 80% rate applies if you support children, your insured earnings are low, or you have a disability pension; otherwise the rate is 70%. Insured earnings are capped by law, so very high salaries are only partly covered.
What are insured earnings?
Insured earnings (versicherter Verdienst / gain assuré) are the average gross salary you earned over the last 6 — or up to 12 — months before unemployment, including a pro-rata 13th salary and regular allowances, capped at the legal maximum.
How long can I receive unemployment benefit?
You receive a fixed number of daily allowances within a two-year framework period — between 200 and 520 depending on how long you paid contributions, your age and whether you support children. Daily allowances are paid for working days, roughly 21.7 per month.
What are waiting days?
Waiting days are days at the start of unemployment for which no benefit is paid. The general waiting period is usually 5 days; people exempt from the contribution requirement (for example recent graduates) have a much longer special waiting period.
Is this calculator official?
No. It is a free, independent estimate to help you plan. Only your unemployment fund can determine the exact amount. ApplyCH is not affiliated with the RAV, SECO or any Swiss authority.
Sources
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