My unemployment benefits have ended, what next?

My unemployment benefit (podpora v nezaměstnanosti) has ended, what should I do? Unemployment benefit helps us bridge the period when we find ourselves completely without income. The period for which the state pays us unemployment benefit depends on our age. People up to 50 years of age are entitled to support for 5 months. People aged 50 and 55 for 8 months, and over 55 it is 11 months. The amount of unemployment benefit decreases during this time. What should we do when this period expires and we still have not found a job? We will discuss that in our article.

What to do when your unemployment benefit ends

If our unemployment benefit has ended and we still haven’t found a job, the state can still help us. However, we must meet certain conditions and also expect that we won’t be able to spend freely.

Housing benefit

Housing benefit Příspěvek na bydlení is for people who cannot cover their housing costs with their income. The amount ranges from a few hundred to around 1,000 CZK (about 46 USD) per month. It does not matter whether you rent or own your property. To qualify for housing benefit, your housing costs must exceed 30% of your household income (35% in Prague). The benefit amount is calculated as the difference between the standard housing costs (set by the government) and your household’s net income. This difference is multiplied by a coefficient of 0.30 (0.35 in Prague).

Child benefits

Child benefit is a social benefit for a dependent child living in a family with low income. This benefit is intended to cover the costs associated with raising and feeding a child. Every family with a net income lower than 3.4 times the family’s subsistence minimum is eligible. This is the minimum monetary income for individuals to ensure nutrition and other basic needs.

Table of subsistence minimum according to different types of households

The subsistence minimum depends on the child’s age and the number of adults in the household.

Amount of child benefit

The amount of child benefit varies depending on the child’s age.

We may also be entitled to the allowance at an increased rate. In such a case, the amount stated in our table would be increased by 500 CZK (about 23 USD). A family is entitled to the allowance at an increased rate if one of its members has income from:

• from dependent employment (at least in the amount of the subsistence minimum for an individual),
• from self-employment,
• sickness insurance,
• pension insurance,
• unemployment benefit and retraining support,
• from a contribution for care for a person under 18 years of age,
• from parental allowance, if provided after exhausting maternity benefit,

What to do when your unemployment benefit ends

Material need assistance helps people who cannot satisfy their basic needs due to insufficient income. It covers three benefits: subsistence allowance, housing supplement, and extraordinary immediate assistance. To qualify for one of these benefits, we must meet certain conditions.

A subsistence allowance is intended to cover food, clothing, hygiene products and other essential items for the applicant. Its amount is calculated as the difference between subsistence costs and the individual’s (or family’s) income. From this difference, we deduct reasonable housing costs (a maximum of 30% of the person’s or family’s income). Each application is considered individually, based on the applicant’s specific circumstances.

Housing supplement Doplatek na bydlení helps applicants cover justified housing costs. Applicants receive this benefit if they are in financial hardship and meet the conditions for housing benefit (housing costs exceed 30% of their income). After paying justified housing costs, we must ensure that the applicant has enough money left for their livelihood.

Extra Immediate Assistance is intended for everyone who has found themselves in a difficult situation. For example, a situation where our health is threatened and our income is lower than the amount of the minimum subsistence level. An extraordinary event (natural disaster). Necessary education costs for a dependent child. A situation where social exclusion is threatened (after release from serving a sentence) and others.

Retraining

If unemployment benefit (podpora v nezaměstnanosti) has ended and we are still unable to find employment, we can apply for a retraining course arranged by the Labour Office (úřad práce). During retraining, we are entitled to support of 60% of our average monthly net earnings from our last employment. Conditions for inclusion in a retraining course:

• we must be registered with the Labour Office (ÚP),
• we must be medically fit to complete the course and perform a new profession,
• retraining must be necessary, our previous education does not allow us to obtain suitable employment,
• retraining must be worthwhile, once we complete the course, we will have a realistic chance of finding employment,
• we must have the appropriate qualifications to complete the course and perform the profession (for example, the appropriate level of education).

Early retirement pension (předčasný starobní důchod)

Older people who are registered with the Labour Office (ÚP) often have great difficulty finding new employment. However, they have the option of taking early retirement. In recent years, the number of people choosing this option has increased. Men who have a state old-age pension age of 63 can retire early this year from the age of 60. Women who have a state old-age pension age higher than 63 can also retire at 60. Women who have a state old-age pension age lower than 63 can retire at least 3 years before reaching it. We can use a calculator to calculate the pension when retiring early.

USD amounts are approximate, converted at the Czech National Bank rate of 21.80 CZK (about 1 USD) per USD on 2 October 2026.