The Solidarity Unemployment Fund (FCS) remains the primary financial support option for Chilean workers who lose their jobs and lack sufficient funds in their Individual Unemployment Account (CIC).
Managed by the Unemployment Fund Administrator (AFC), this mechanism serves as a safety net when individually accumulated resources are insufficient following the termination of employment.
Access to this benefit is strictly dependent on the specific grounds for dismissal. Eligible situations for activating the fund include business necessity, employer bankruptcy, the expiration of a contract term, and the completion of the services that established the employment relationship.
Eligibility Requirements
To apply for support, workers must be unemployed and have had their contracts terminated under the aforementioned legal grounds. Additionally, the system requires a specific contribution history to ensure coverage.
Regulations require a minimum of 10 contributions to the Solidarity Unemployment Fund during the 24 months prior to dismissal. However, in areas affected by natural disasters or states of constitutional exception, this requirement is reduced to 8 contributions.
Officials from ChileAtiende specified that the last three contributions must be continuous and from the same employer. These are calculated from the date of enrollment or the last insurance claim up until the month preceding the end of the contract.
The process also requires beneficiaries to take a proactive approach. It is mandatory to register with the National Employment Exchange (BNE), accept available job offers, and participate in any training programs provided.
However, the law establishes clear exclusions for this benefit. Public employees, members of the Armed Forces and Law Enforcement, self-employed workers, minors under 18, and individuals already receiving a pension—except in cases of partial disability—are ineligible to access the fund.