How long is unemployment benefit paid?

The duration of full unemployment benefit.

What the law says

You get benefit for as long as you worked, in whole months, during the reference period (Art. L. 521-11).
It cannot exceed that length per 24-month period (Art. L. 521-11).
From age 50, once your rights run out, they can be extended on request: 12 months with 30 years of pension insurance, 9 months with 25 years, 6 months with 20 years (Art. L. 521-11).
For people who are particularly hard to place, ADEM can grant up to 182 more days (Art. L. 521-11).

The extension request is made online, through the State’s secure platform (Art. L. 521-11).

By practice area, language and town, in a neutral order.

Official source : Code du travail (version du 26.7.2026) · Checked on 21.10.2026