Time to receive unemployment benefits from January 2026

The Lao Dong Newspaper Legal Consulting Office replied:

Article 39 of the 2025 Law on Employment (effective from January 1, 2026) stipulates the level of benefits, the time of benefits, the time of benefits and the documents, order and procedures for receiving unemployment benefits as follows:

1. The monthly unemployment benefit is equal to 60% of the average monthly salary for unemployment insurance contributions of the 06 most recent months of unemployment insurance contributions before the termination of labor contracts, employment contracts or termination of employment, but not exceeding 05 times the minimum monthly salary by region announced by the Government applied in the last month of unemployment insurance contributions.

2. The unemployment benefit period is calculated based on the number of months of unemployment insurance contributions, for every 12 months to 36 months of contributions, 03 months of unemployment benefits will be received, then for every additional 12 months of contributions, 01 month of unemployment benefits will be received, but the maximum unemployment benefit period is 12 months.

3. The time to receive unemployment benefits is the 11th working day from the date of submitting a complete application for unemployment benefits.

4. Employees who are receiving unemployment benefits are entitled to health insurance benefits according to the provisions of the law on health insurance, including the period of temporary suspension of unemployment benefits according to the provisions of Clause 2, Article 41 of this Law. People receiving unemployment benefits are covered by the social insurance agency under the Unemployment Insurance Fund.

5. The Government shall detail Clauses 1 and 2 of this Article; prescribe the dossier, order, and procedures for receiving unemployment benefits.

Thus, from January 1, 2026, the time to receive unemployment benefits is the 11th working day from the date of submitting a complete application for unemployment benefits.