Can unemployment benefits be phased out?

Verified 29 November 2023 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)

Yes, if you fail to fulfill your obligations as a job seeker, Pôle emploi can written off temporarily or permanently the list of jobseekers. This results in a reduction or elimination of the payment of your return-to-work assistance (RWA).

What are the reasons and duration of your cancelation in this case?

Tableau - Reasons and durations for cancelation

Grounds for cancelation

Duration of the cancelation on 1er failure to comply

Duration of the cancelation in case of 2e failure to comply

Duration of the cancelation from 3e failure to comply

Inability to justify job searches

1 month

2 consecutive months

4 consecutive months

Refusal on 2 occasions of a reasonable job offer

1 month

2 consecutive months

4 consecutive months

Refusal to develop or update its PPAE: titleContent

1 month

2 consecutive months

4 consecutive months

Refusal to take training or job search assistance

1 month

2 consecutive months

4 consecutive months

Refusal to submit to medical examinations

1 month

2 consecutive months

4 consecutive months

Refusal of an insertion action or an assisted contract

1 month

2 consecutive months

4 consecutive months

Refusal to respond to Pôle emploi summonses

1 month

2 consecutive months

4 consecutive months

Lack of statement or misrepresentation

Final deletion. However, if the false declaration is linked to an undeclared activity of very short duration, the deletion can be from 2 to 6 months.

FYI  

If you are in young person's employment contract, Pôle emploi may reduce or eliminate your allowance in the event of non-compliance with your obligations. However, the penalty cannot be a removal from the list of jobseekers.

In the event of a breach of your obligations as a job seeker, Pôle emploi informs you by post of the initiation of the delisting procedure and the envisaged decision.

Pôle emploi informs you of the envisaged duration of your cancelation and the means and time limits of appeal.

You may make written or oral submissions in the 10 calendar days that follow the mail.

At the end of this period, Pôle emploi shall notify you of its decision within 15 calendar days.

If you are then removed from the list of job seekers and wish to challenge the decision of Pôle emploi, you can make a ex gratia appeal to the pôle emploi mediator.

The decision taken by Pôle emploi shall apply for the duration of your appeal.

If you are not satisfied, you can enter the administrative courts.

FYI  

the removal of the EI payment by Pôle emploi removes you from the list of jobseekers.