Allowance for the Unemployed

Support for the Unemployed

You are entitled to unemployment benefit if:

• You are registered as unemployed with the Unemployment Insurance Fund;
• You have been employed for at least 180 days during the year preceding your unemployment;
• Your monthly income is lower than 31 times the daily unemployment benefit rate.
  You are also eligible for unemployment benefit if you have previously worked in a country other than Estonia and can prove this to the Unemployment Insurance Fund.

If you do not qualify for the benefits, you can still register with the Unemployment Insurance Fund. This will help you in your job search, provide health insurance, and allow you to participate in various labour market training, career counselling, psychological, debt, and addiction counselling.

For more information, visit the Unemployment Insurance Fund’s website or call the helpline at 777 3000.

Find out more on the Unemployment Insurance Fund website or call (+372) 777 3000.

Unemployment insurance benefit

Unemployment insurance benefit is paid to a person who has paid unemployment insurance contributions for at least 12 months in the last three years and who has not left work on their own initiative, upon agreement with the employer or due to his or her wrongful behaviour. You will receive a benefit within 60 percent of your average remuneration per calendar day for the first 100 days of receiving the benefit, and 40 per cent per each calendar day thereafter.

Find out more on the Unemployment Insurance Fund website or call (+372) 777 3000. 

Health insurance leaflet for refugees

The Health Insurance Fund (Tervisekassa) has put together information for refugees on health services in Estonia, which you can read here.

Health insurance

The costs of treatment for people with national health insurance are covered by the Health Insurance Fund if the treatment provider is their contractual partner. 

Beneficiaries of international protection and temporary protection and persons staying in Estonia on the basis of a work permit, for whom social tax is paid and those who pay it for themselves, are entitled to health insurance in Estonia.

In addition to working people, unemployed persons registered with the Unemployment Insurance Fund are also health insurance. 

According to the Estonian Population Register, children living in Estonia, pregnant women, dependent spouses, people with partial or no work capacity, pensioners, students, one parent raising a child under the age of three, three or more children under the age of 19, at least one of whom is under the age of 8, are treated as insured persons. 

You can check the validity of your health insurance on the state portal eesti.ee in the service "Current account and data in the Health Insurance Fund" and by calling the Health Insurance Fund hotline (+372) 669 6630..

Read more about health insurance on the Health Insurance Fund website. 

Dental benefits 

In Estonia, dental care for children under 19 years of age is covered by the Health Insurance Fund (Tervisekassa). For adults, dental care is a paid service. Adults can receive an annual dental benefit of either €60 or €105. The dental benefit for insured adults is €60, which requires a co-payment of 50%.

For individuals with increased dental care needs, the dental benefit is €105. This group includes pregnant women, mothers of children under one year old, pensioners with reduced work capacity, and elderly pensioners, who have a co-payment of 12.5%.

The Health Insurance Fund recommends that individuals in need of dental care review the criteria for receiving higher dental benefits and access to free dental care. There are often situations where a person is entitled to a higher dental benefit, but they or their family doctor may not be aware of it.

You can check the amount and remaining balance of your benefits through the state portal at Eesti.ee under the service section “Dental and Prosthetic Services Information.”

The benefit applies to essential dental care services. For any services not listed as reimbursable, payment must be made according to the healthcare provider's price list. Additionally, service providers are entitled to charge a consultation fee of up to €5 (excluding pregnant women). The reimbursable amount is deducted from the treatment cost at the time of payment, and patients do not need to submit any applications or documents to the Health Insurance Fund (Tervisekassa).

Important Note: To utilise the benefits, your chosen healthcare provider must be a partner of Tervisekassa.

For more information about dental services offered by Tervisekassa, please visit their official website.

Benefits for people with disabilities

In order to establish the severity of disability and apply for a social allowance for a person with a disability, children up to the age of 15 and people of old-age pension age (from the age of 64) you must submit an application to the Social Insurance Board. Working-age people (aged 16-64) can submit an application for an assessment of their capacity for work and the degree of disability to the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund.

If the medical condition meets the conditions for disability, the type of disability, the degree of severity and the social benefit are determined. The severity of the disability is established for a period of six months to five years. 

A person can simultaneously apply for the assessment of partial or full incapacity for work and for the determination of a disability. If, for example, someone is diagnosed with partial (or full) incapacity for work and also has a disability, they can receive benefits for both incapacity and the disability at the same time.

If you applied for the assessment of partial or full incapacity for work or disability and are dissatisfied with the decision (for instance, if you feel that you need an official registration of partial incapacity for work, but it was not granted), you have the right to request a reassessment of your condition for partial or full incapacity for work or disability within a month of the decision.

Care services

Long-term care is intended for people who need various forms of support in managing their daily lives. Individuals with very high care needs often have an unavoidable requirement for round-the-clock general care services, such as those provided in a nursing home. The organisation of elderly care services is the responsibility of the local municipality.

Read more about it here.

Childbirth Allowance

The childbirth allowance is a one-time payment for each family to which a child is born. The amount of the allowance is €320. In the case of triplets and multiples, the benefit is €1,000 per child, for example €3,000 for triplets. Read more here.

Parental Benefit

Shared parental benefit

The shared parental benefit is intended for one parent. Parents can decide which one of them will receive the benefit, and it is possible to change the recipient multiple times during the period. The parental benefit is paid for up to 475 days, starting when the child is 31 days old and continuing until the child turns three. The amount of the benefit depends on how much social tax was paid during the year before the pregnancy began (the benefit ranges from €725 to €4,733).

Read more about this on the website of the Social Insurance Board. 

Maternity parental benefit

All working mothers are entitled to receive parental benefit of at least €725 for up to 100 days (70 days before the birth and 30 days after). The exact amount of the benefit depends on the mother's previous salary. Unemployed mothers receive the benefit for 30 days after the child is born. The parental benefit also includes health insurance coverage.

Read more about this on the website of the Social Insurance Board.

Father's parental benefit

Every father in Estonia is entitled to receive a benefit of at least €725 for 30 days (the exact amount depends on the father's previous salary), which can be used from just before the expected due date until the child turns three years old. The benefit is available to both employed and unemployed fathers, but it does not include health insurance.

Read more about this on the website of the Social Insurance Board. 

Child Benefit

Every child is entitled to child benefit from birth until the age of 19. The amount of child benefit is €80 per month for the first child, €80 for the second child and €100 for the third  and €100 for each additional child. A supplementary allowance of €450 per month is paid for families with three or more children and €650 per month for families with seven or more children. Children are entitled to child benefit until the age of 19.

Read more about family benefits for Ukrainians on the website of the Social Insurance Board. 

Single Parent Child Allowance

The single-parent allowance is paid for the same period as the child benefit if the child's birth certificate does not contain any information on the child's father or if the child's other parent has been declared officially wanted. The amount of the single parent's allowance is €80 per month. 

Read more about it here. 

Legal Aid

The state will pay up to €200 a month for a child whose parent(s) do not meet the conditions of maintenance. Child support can be claimed during court proceedings, enforcement proceedings and bankruptcy proceedings.

Read more about it here. 

For war refugees who have been granted temporary protection, their pensions are passed on by the Pension Office of Ukraine. If you are of pensionable age (born in 1960 or earlier) and your Ukrainian pension is lower than the Estonian national pension, you can apply to the Social Insurance Board to cover the gap, and the difference between the two pensions will be paid into your bank account each month. The national pension rate changes every year. Read more about it here.

Estonia will not cover the payment of Ukrainian pensions, even if a war refugee in Estonia does not receive his Ukrainian pension here for some reason. Ukraine cannot transfer pensions directly to Estonian accounts. 

If you do not qualify for an old-age pension at retirement age due to lack of pensionable service and you have lived in Estonia for at least five years, you are entitled to an Estonian national pension. 

Reaching Retirement Age

To qualify for an old-age pension, a person must have reached the retirement age and have at least 15 years of pensionable service. In 2024, the retirement age is 64 years and 9 months. 

To receive a pension, you need to express your intention to retire. The pension application should be submitted to the Social Insurance Board in a timely manner, along with the necessary supporting documents.

You can find the documents required for applying for a pension here.

Accommodation Centres for Asylum Seekers

The accommodation centres for asylum seekers located in Vao and Vägeva provide housing for those applying for international protection, as well as for individuals who have received a positive decision. Assistance is offered to help with settling into life in Estonia, communicating with public authorities, and finding school placements or employment.

Read more about the services provided by the accommodation centres here.

Reimbursement of housing costs 

The maximum amount of the one-time compensation of rental costs for beneficiaries of temporary protection or international protection is €1,200, which can cover one month's rent, broker's commission and deposit. When applying for the allowance, you will need to present the rental contract and proof of expenses if you have incurred any costs related to the accommodation.

First, the person must pay their rent themselves, and only then can they apply for reimbursement from the local government by providing proof that the rent has actually been paid. The best way to do this is through an electronic banking app where the payment is clearly visible. The most reliable way to protect yourself from fraud and issues is to pay rent and utility bills through electronic transfers.

Rent reimbursement can only be requested once, and to apply, you must have registered your residence in the Population Register.

Please note! Starting from 11 September 2024, rent expenses will only be reimbursed if:

1. The refugee has received an Estonian residence permit for the first time (under the International Protection Act), and
2. The application is submitted within the first six months after receiving the initial residence permit.

Find out more about the compensation of rental costs from the Social Insurance Board website.

In Tallinn, the Tallinn Migration Centre assists with applying for rental support, as well as providing information about public sector services and support for adaptation. Individuals receive guidance on social assistance matters, and initial aid is offered when necessary.

The Tallinn Migration Centre is open:

• Monday: 9:00–18:00
• Tuesday and Thursday: 9:00–17:00
• Friday: 9:00–16:00

The centre is closed on Wednesdays and weekends.

Email: ukto@tallinnlv.ee
Information phone, Viber, WhatsApp, Telegram: +372 5385 9033

For more information about all the services offered by the Tallinn Migration Centre, please read more here.

Emergency Accommodation from the Estonian Refugee Council

The Estonian Refugee Council assists refugees who have unexpectedly lost their homes in finding emergency accommodation. In addition to this, the Refugee Council provides essential information to help individuals with refugee status adapt and find necessary services and support.

The Estonian Refugee Council offers consultations via phone at +372 5881 1311, through Viber, WhatsApp, and Telegram at +372 5464 0007 (Monday to Friday, 10:00–17:00), and via email at counselling@pagulasabi.ee.

You can also visit us in person at Vambola 6 in Tallinn; please call ahead or send us an email to arrange your visit.

For more information about all the services provided by the Estonian Refugee Council, please visit: www.pagulasabi.ee.

Livelihood allowance

Social assistance benefit is a form of financial aid provided by the state to individuals in need, administered by the local municipality. Individuals living alone are eligible for this benefit if, after paying for housing costs—such as rent and utilities—their monthly income falls below €200. For families, the threshold is €160 per month for other adults and €240 per month for minors.

If you require assistance with everyday expenses, please reach out to your local municipality or their social welfare department to request an appointment and inquire about the possibility of receiving aid.

Important Note: The requirement for applying for social assistance benefit is not registration in the population register but rather your actual residence in the local municipality. If you do not have a registered address in the population register, the local municipality is still obliged to provide you with social assistance benefit under justified circumstances (Social Welfare Act § 132, subsection 1).

Foreign students whose family members (parents) do not live in Estonia are also eligible to receive subsistence benefits. Such students may include, for example, individuals to whom the Estonian state has granted international protection, as well as students studying here who have encountered difficulties. For more information, read the Social Insurance Board's information on their website.

Read more about the subsistence allowance on the website of the Ministry of Social Affairs and on kriis.ee. The Social Welfare Act regulates the payment of income support. 

Tallinn Social Work Centre

The Soup kitchen (Supiköök)  is open for anyone who has financial difficulties and is struggling to pay for meals and, as a result, to provide warm food for themselves and their families.  

The Soup Kitchen is located at Pae 19/1, Lasnamäe. You can get a hot meal (0.5 litres of soup and 100 grams of bread) every day between 12:00-15:00 

From time to time, hygiene products (e.g. toothbrushes and toothpaste) are also distributed to service recipients.

Read more about the Tallinn Social Work Centre on their website. 

If you are unable to buy food, be sure to contact the social worker in the municipality where you live. 

The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army distributes food and clothing to all those in need in Tallinn and Narva. Read more on the Salvation Army website. 

If you are unable to afford food, please contact the social worker in the municipality where you live. 

Estonian Food Bank

At the distribution points of the Estonian Food Bank, food aid is provided on the basis of lists drawn up by social workers. To apply for assistance, please contact the social assistance department of the district government where you live.. 

Read more on the Estonian Food Bank website.

Food Distribution Cabinets

Food is collected in food distribution cabinets from homes, catering establishments, or shops. To use the Fudloop food distribution cabinet, you must register as a user on their website.

The food distribution cabinets are located at:

• Central Market Food Distribution Cabinet (Keldrimäe 9, attached to the Central Market administrative building).
• Lasnamäe Food Distribution Cabinet (Pallasti 54, behind the Lasnamäe local government building).
• Mustamäe Food Distribution Cabinet (E. Vilde tee 71, next to Maxima).

For more information, please read further here.

Food Aid Card 

People who receive social or subsistence benefits are entitled to a food aid card. It is not applied for separately, but is included with the above benefits if the social worker has assessed that it is necessary. 

The food aid card is loaded with €30 per person per quarter. One food aid card is issued per family, on which the amount of the allowance for the whole household is entered. The card can only be used to buy food and basic necessities..

Read more about the food aid card on the website of the Ministry of Social Affairs 

The charity Aarete Laegas helps families in difficulty with second-hand clothes. The Tallinn charity shop is located at Kopli 33. Read more on their website. 

The Tallinn Red Cross store Punane Ristik (at Mustamäe tee 8) in Tallinn is offering a 50% discount on clothes for Ukrainians. Read more on their Facebook page. 

Second-hand items are being donated to people in need by the Reuse Centers.

Second-hand shop Friend to Friend donates recycled items to refugees. 

Facebook group Friends of Ukraine in Estonia provides quick help and information, especially for basic needs..

If you are having difficulties buying clothes or other basic necessities, you should contact the social worker in the municipality where you live.