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The Brazilian unemployment benefit system is managed by the Worker Assistance Fund Advisory Council of the Ministry of Labour and Employment. In order to be eligible for unemployment benefit you must have worked consecutively for at least six months prior to unemployment (not necessarily with the same employer) and may not receive any other form of income that allows you or your dependents to support themselves.

The amount and duration of your benefit will depend on your average salary over the last three months of employment, and on the number of months you worked in the 36 month period preceding unemployment. The minimum monthly unemployment benefit is equal to the current minimum monthly wage in Brazil, which is adjusted annually by the government.

In order to claim unemployment benefit you must go to a local authorised branch of the federal bank (Caixa), a Regional Work Delegation office (Delegacia Regional do Trabalho - DRT) or a National Employment System office (Sistema Nacional de Emprego - SINE) between 7 and 120 days of losing your job. Upon termination of your employment you will receive a form called a “Requerimento do Seguro-Desemprego”, which you will need to present when claiming benefit, in addition to your passport or identity card, your Individual Taxpayer’s Card (Cadastro de Pessoa Física - CPF) and a copy of your work contract.

If a worker is a victim of unfair dismissal (subject to legal verification) then he or she is entitled to a maximum of six monthly payments, calculated as an average of the last three months of salary payments. The employee must have worked at the former company for a minimum of six months to be eligible.

For more information on unemployment benefits in Brazil go to the website of the Ministry of Labour and Employment (Ministério do Trabalho e Emprego).