UAE ILOE Claims: Who Qualifies, Deadlines and Payment Caps

If you’ve lost your UAE job, don’t assume your unemployment insurance payment will start automatically. You must meet the eligibility rules, cancel your work permit and submit your claim on time.

Official UAE sources say eligible workers can receive 60% of their average basic salary for up to three months per claim. This generally covers Emiratis and residents working in the federal government and private sectors, so foreign workers in these sectors may qualify.

Who Can Make an ILOE Claim

You must have been subscribed to the Involuntary Loss of Employment scheme for at least 12 continuous months. All premiums must also have been paid according to your selected payment schedule.

The job loss must be involuntary. You cannot receive compensation if you resigned or were dismissed for disciplinary reasons.

Some worker groups are excluded from the scheme. These include:

• Investors working in their own establishments
• Domestic workers
• Employees with temporary contracts
• Workers under 18
• Specified retirees who receive a pension and have joined a new job

Claims are also not covered if there is an active work-absence complaint, fraud, a fictitious employer, strike-related job loss or no legal UAE residence.

How Much You May Receive

Compensation is calculated at 60% of your average basic salary during the six months before unemployment. It is based on basic salary, not the full salary package.

The monthly payment is capped at AED10,000 for the lower salary category and AED20,000 for the higher category. A single claim can cover no more than three months.

Across your employment in the UAE labour market, total ILOE compensation cannot exceed 12 months. If you find another job while receiving compensation, the payments stop.

An eligible claim should be paid within two weeks after it is submitted.

Deadline and Details Needed to Apply

You must submit the claim within 30 days after your employment relationship ends. If the job loss is connected to a labour dispute, the deadline applies after the dispute is resolved. For a court-referred employment dispute, you must provide the final judicial ruling within 30 days of that ruling.

Do not wait until the end of any visa grace period. The claim deadline is linked to the end of employment or the resolution of the related dispute.

Before applying, cancel your work permit and check the recorded cancellation date and reason. If you were terminated, the record should not incorrectly show that you resigned.

The official claim process requires:

• Your Emirates ID
• Your registered UAE mobile number
• The OTP sent for sign-in
• Bank or exchange-house payment details
• Correct work-permit cancellation information

If the cancellation details are incorrect, you may need an official dismissal letter showing the dismissal date and reason, along with MOHRE-approved supporting documents. Keep any relevant dispute records available as well.

Check Your Policy Before Claiming

First, confirm that your ILOE policy remained active for 12 consecutive months and that no premium is outstanding. Then review the work-permit cancellation form carefully before signing it.

Apply only through government-linked ILOE channels. For claim questions, the MOHRE guide lists the ILOE Call Centre at 600 599 555 and the email address claims@iloe.ae.

While waiting for the claim decision, you can also check current UAE openings on the GluJob jobs page. Remember that compensation ends if you obtain another job during the benefit period.

Next step: Check your ILOE policy status and work-permit cancellation details today.