Unemployment aid in Poland for an EU citizen

Hello everyone,

I'm a Hungarian who is about to move to Poznań in the next weeks. Even though I'd like to find a job as soon as possible, I'm considering applying for a Polish unemployment aid for the -hopefully- short jobless period. I'm eligible for such benefit in Hungary, so as far as I know, I can get a Polish one too thanks to EU regulation. So I'd like to ask, if anyone has any experience in applying this or if anyone knows the amount of money I can expect.

Any kind of help would be appreciated.

I can't help but I'd love to hear how you get on: please come back and let us know the details.

Good luck!

You can't claim in Poland first - you need to be receiving unemployment benefits in Hungary and then use the EU right to seek work in another country - they will pay your Hungarian unemployment benefits for 3 months maximum in Poland as a result. The money paid comes from Hungary, not Poland - and you will receive the same amount as you would in Hungary.

If you turn up and try and claim in Poland, you'll be denied due to the lack of paying into the Polish social security system.

Thanks a lot! You're from Poznań, right? Do you think it's possible to get a job there in 2-3 months time if I don't speak Polish, besides some crap slave labour in a call centre?

First, how much chance would a Pole who speaks no Hungarian have in finding a job in Szeged or Miskolc?

In Miskolc? It would be difficult even for a Hungarian! :) Anyway, finding a job on the western side of the country is defo tricky but not impossible.

Generally speaking, you need to pay your dues here. No-one is particularly interested in hiring foreigners who don't speak Polish unless they are a must-hire for some reason.

I've met people like you before, and they really struggled to find work. If you aren't desirable for Poles, then call centre work is as good as it gets. There's nothing wrong with such work in the beginning - it'll help you find something better in the long run.

Why are you moving here?

I think most of the guys are going for the same reason: my girl is Polish and I following her. She's been in Budapest for a while but she needs to go back to finish her studies.

Will she still like you when you're unemployed in Poznan and unable to find work?

Try looking here Kelper:

europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/work/job-search/transferring-unemployment-benefits/

Well, I can only hope since I'm not a fortune teller :) She said we'll move to a different city in case I can find a satisfying job there.

I can only give you one piece of advice : don't believe all that she says. Polish people are very attached to their families, and for instance - let's say you find a job in Krakow (which is possible) - will she really want to travel 6 hours each way to see her family?

Her parents are from Częstochowa, so she already travels 6 hrs to see them :) Wrocław, Warsaw and Kraków are all easier to access by train from there.

I am really interested in your thoughts so to avoid off-topic, I sent you an email.

I can be a man and admit that I was totally and utterly wrong. Met the OP last night (a great guy!) and he's found decent work here. So it is perfectly possible, should you be properly qualified :)