Unemployment benefits: how is the daily reference wage calculated?
Verified 01 January 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
The daily reference wage (SJR) is used to calculate your unemployment benefits. It is based on your earnings over a period of time and the number of days in that period. The conditions are not the same according to the calculation date of the SJR, from 1er October 2021 or earlier. We present you with the information you need to know.
Since October 2021
The conditions for calculating the SJR are not the same depending on your age: under 53 or 53 and over.
The daily reference wage (SJR) is determined in 2 steps.
The total gross remuneration received during the 2 years before the end of your last employment contract is taken into account.
This sum is divided by the number of calendar days (days worked + days not worked) between 1er the day of the first contract and the last day of the last contract in that period.
Example :
You received a total gross earnings of €48,000. This amount is divided by 731 calendar days. Your reference salary is: 48,000 / 731 = €65.66.
For each month, the remuneration taken into account may not exceed €15,456.
Type of compensation | Taking into account |
|---|---|
Allowances of 13è month | Only for the 12 partè month |
Balance sheet premiums | Only for the 12 partè month |
Rewards received | Only for the 12 partè month |
Refunds for professional expenses | No |
Termination and severance pay | No |
Conventional severance pay | No |
Leave with pay compensatory allowances | No |
End-of-mission allowance (precarious allowance) | No |
Advance notice or non-competition allowances | No |
Social Security Daily Allowances | No |
The daily reference wage (SJR) is determined in 2 steps.
The total gross remuneration received during the 3 years before the end of your last employment contract is taken into account.
This sum is divided by the number of calendar days (days worked + days not worked) between 1er the day of the first contract and the last day of the last contract in that period.
Example :
You received a total gross earnings of €60,000. This amount is divided by 1,096 calendar days. Your reference salary is: 60,000 / 1,096 = €54.74.
For each month, the remuneration taken into account may not exceed €15,456.
Type of compensation | Taking into account |
|---|---|
Allowances of 13è month | Only for the 12 partè month |
Balance sheet premiums | Only for the 12 partè month |
Rewards received | Only for the 12 partè month |
Refunds for professional expenses | No |
Termination and severance pay | No |
Conventional severance pay | No |
Leave with pay compensatory allowances | No |
End-of-mission allowance (precarious allowance) | No |
Advance notice or non-competition allowances | No |
Social Security Daily Allowances | No |
Before
The daily reference wage (SJR), which is used to calculate your unemployment benefits, is determined on the basis of an annual reference wage.
SJR equals annual reference wage (RW) divided by the number of days worked during the calculation reference period (PRC).
This period consists of the 12 calendar months preceding the last day of paid work.
It shall be calculated on the basis of gross remuneration and on the basis of the principle 1 day worked = 1 day compensated.
The maximum number of working days used in the reference period is 261 days.
The calculation of the SJR is obtained as follows: SJR = reference salary / (number of days worked x 1,4).
Example :
If you worked on the 1er January 2020 to December 31, 2020, which is 261 days, and you have received €25,000 of gross earnings, your daily reference salary is: 25,000 / (261 x 1.4) = €68.42.
For each month, the remuneration taken into account may not exceed €15,456.
Type of compensation | Taking into account |
|---|---|
Allowances of 13è month | Only for the 12 partè month |
Balance sheet premiums | Only for the 12 partè month |
Rewards received | Only for the 12 partè month |
Refunds for professional expenses | No |
Termination and severance pay | No |
Conventional severance pay | No |
Leave with pay compensatory allowances | No |
End-of-mission allowance (precarious allowance) | No |
Advance notice or non-competition allowances | No |
Social Security Daily Allowances | No |
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