Sweden Finland Austria

5.
Unemployed for the whole year, not eligible for insurance. Single APW
There is no gross wage. The compensation is 12 × 195 = 2,340 CAD on the assump-
tion that the unemployed single person receives social assistance during the unem-
ployment period.
The gross compensation percentage is 2,340 / 34,412 × 100 = 7. Social assistance is
not taxable so the disposable income is 2,340 CAD (excluding housing allowances).
The decrease in disposable income compared to the situation with no unemployment
is 25,160 - 2,340 = 22,810 or 90.7 per cent.
The single unemployed recipient of social assistance would also be eligible for a
(non taxable) housing allowance of 325 CAD/month. The personal as well as the
housing allowance increase with family size. A couple (no children) receives 390
CAD/month in personal allowances and 511 CAD/month in housing allowance.
6.
Wife unemployed for the whole year, insured. APW couple
There is no gross wage for the wife. The maximum benefit period for a person work-
ing part time (here 50 per cent) is 39 weeks (varies across the provinces according to
the unemployment level), but 39 weeks is the longest benefit period. The compensa-
tion is 55 per cent of the lost income in 39 weeks, i.e. 39/52 × 0.55 × 17,206 = 7,097
CAD. There are first 2 weeks (waiting period) with no compensation, then 39 weeks
with compensation from the Employment Insurance. There is no compensation from
social assistance for the remaining time (11 weeks), because it is means tested to 0
against the husband's income from work. Total compensation is 7,097 CAD.
The gross compensation percentage is 7,097 / 17,206 × 100 = 41. The disposable
income for the APW-couple is 32,084 CAD, when the wife is unemployed for the
whole year in 1997 and usually is working part time.
The decrease in disposable income compared to the situation with no unemployment
is 38,921 - 32,084 = 6,837 CAD or 17.6 per cent.