Lost your job? Your final working date, visa status and salary may determine how much unemployment compensation you receive.
Dubai: Have you lost your job in the UAE and want to know how much unemployment insurance compensation you may be entitled to? The official website of the Involuntary Loss of Employment (ILOE) scheme features an online calculator that allows employees to estimate their potential monthly benefits within minutes.
The tool helps workers understand the financial assistance they could receive while looking for new employment after an unexpected job loss.
Here is a closer look at how the calculator works and the steps to use it.
What is the UAE ILOE compensation calculator?
Available through the official ILOE portal, the calculator helps eligible employees estimate the compensation they could receive under the UAE’s unemployment insurance programme.
Under the scheme, eligible private-sector and federal government employees are entitled to receive 60 per cent of their average basic salary during the six months preceding their job loss. Payments can continue for up to three consecutive months, subject to the applicable monthly compensation limits.
The tool also helps users assess key eligibility conditions. It asks for details about the circumstances surrounding their job loss, insurance subscription history and residency status.
How to use the ILOE compensation calculator
Step 1: Visit the official website
Open the official ILOE calculator at www.iloe.ae/Calculator.aspx.
Step 2: Choose the reason for unemployment
Select the option that best describes how your employment ended:
- Termination
- Resignation
- Disciplinary termination
Under the ILOE scheme, compensation is available to eligible employees who lose their jobs involuntarily. Employees who resign or are dismissed for disciplinary reasons are generally not entitled to claim these benefits.
Step 3: Provide your last working date
The calculator requires two dates:
- Your actual final working day.
- The date you plan to file your compensation claim.
Both dates are relevant because ILOE claims must be submitted within 30 days of the end of the employment relationship.
Step 4: Verify your insurance subscription period
You will need to confirm whether you completed at least 12 consecutive months of ILOE insurance subscription before your last working day.
Employees must have maintained continuous ILOE insurance coverage for at least 12 months, while ensuring that all premiums are paid within the stipulated deadlines, to qualify for compensation.
Step 5: Verify your UAE residency status
The calculator asks whether you are currently in the UAE and hold a valid residence visa or remain within the grace period permitted after its cancellation.
This is particularly relevant for employees whose visas have been cancelled following job loss. Under UAE immigration regulations, the permitted grace period can vary from 30 to 180 days, depending on the individual’s residency category.
- 30 days: Certain other residency categories.
- 60 days: Standard employer-sponsored residence visas.
- 90 days: Eligible skilled workers.
- 180 days: Certain categories, including Golden and Green Visa holders.
Step 6: Declare whether you own or partner in the company
You must specify whether you are an owner or partner in the establishment where your employment was terminated.
Investors who own the establishments in which they work are among those excluded from the ILOE insurance scheme.
Step 7: Provide your basic salary for the previous six months
The calculator displays six separate fields for entering your monthly basic salary, in UAE dirhams, for the six months leading up to your final working day.
Make sure you enter the basic salary specified in your employment contract, rather than your gross salary, which includes additional allowances.
Step 8: Choose your ILOE insurance category
Select the insurance category mentioned on your ILOE certificate:
- Category A: Employees earning a basic salary of Dh16,000 or less.
- Category B: Employees earning a basic salary above Dh16,000.
After selecting the relevant category, submit your details to see the estimated monthly compensation.
How much ILOE compensation can you receive?
Under the unemployment insurance scheme, eligible employees can receive 60 per cent of their average basic salary over the six months preceding job loss, subject to the maximum payment allowed for their insurance category.
The monthly compensation limits are:
- Category A: Up to Dh10,000.
- Category B: Up to Dh20,000.
The final amount depends on the employee’s average basic salary during the relevant six-month period and the applicable category limit. Those whose basic salaries changed during this period may receive a different payout from employees with unchanged salaries.
Does the calculator confirm whether you are eligible?
No. The calculator provides an indicative estimate and does not guarantee that your insurance claim will be approved. According to the ILOE website, the result is hypothetical and depends on the details entered by the user.
When an employee files an actual compensation claim, the insurer reviews the information available in its records along with the supporting documents submitted before making a decision.
Claimants must also continue to comply with the policy’s terms and conditions throughout the compensation period.
Important: Checking your estimated payout through the ILOE calculator does not count as filing a claim. Employees must follow the separate claims procedure to formally apply for unemployment insurance benefits.
