Spanish · Seguridad Social / SEPE
You ask about unemployment benefit: what to say in Spanish
You ask about unemployment benefit.
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How it's done. Unemployment benefit (prestación por desempleo, paro) depends on how long you worked and contributed; it is applied for at SEPE after dismissal, by appointment.Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
Cheat sheet for your visit
The first phrase is open: tap ▶ to listen, or “Show” to show it to the other person. The rest of the dialogue is in the course in the app.
1
YOU START
Me han despedido y quería solicitar el paro.
Meh ahn des-peh-DEE-doh ee keh-REE-uh soh-lee-see-TAHR el PAH-roh.
I've been dismissed and wanted to apply for unemployment benefit.
THEY SAY
¿Cuánto tiempo ha trabajado en España?Koo-AHN-toh TYEHM-poh uh truh-buh-KHAH-doh en Es-PAH-nyuh?
How long have you worked in Spain?
They might also say:
¿Cuánto tiempo lleva trabajando en España?
Koo-AHN-toh TYEHM-poh YEH-buh truh-buh-KHAHN-doh en Es-PAH-nyuh?
How long have you been working in Spain?
2
YOU REPLY
Un año y medio.
Oon AH-nyoh ee MEH-dyoh.
A year and a half.
THEY SAY
Entonces tiene derecho. Traiga el certificado de la empresa.Ayn-TOHN-ses TYEH-neh deh-REH-choh. TRIGH-guh el sehr-tee-fee-KAH-doh deh lah em-PREH-suh.
Then you're entitled. Bring the company certificate.
3
YOU FINISH
¿Cuándo tengo que presentarlo?
Koo-AHN-doh TAYN-goh keh preh-sayn-TAHR-loh?
When do I have to submit it?
THEY SAY
En los quince días siguientes al despido.En los KEEN-seh DEE-uhs see-GYAYN-tes ahl des-PEE-doh.
Within fifteen days of dismissal.
The course is in the app
This dialogue is part of the course “Spanish for life in Spain”: 416 situations with audio, a pronunciation guide and spaced review.
On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.
Words worth knowing
han
ahn
verb
have (auxiliary: they)
despedido
des-peh-DEE-doh
verb
dismissed
quería
keh-REE-uh
verb
I wanted
solicitar
soh-lee-see-TAHR
verb
to apply for, to request
paro
PAH-roh
noun
unemployment
tiempo
TYEHM-poh
noun
time
27 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
¿Puede repetirlo, por favor?
Poo-EH-deh reh-peh-TEER-loh, por fuh-BOR?
Can you repeat that, please?
¿Puede hablar más despacio, por favor?
Poo-EH-deh uh-BLAHR mahs des-PAH-syoh, por fuh-BOR?
Can you speak more slowly, please?
¿Puede escribírmelo, por favor?
Poo-EH-deh es-kree-BEER-meh-loh, por fuh-BOR?
Can you write it down for me, please?
¿Qué significa esto?
Keh seeg-nee-FEE-kuh ES-toh?
What does this mean?
Similar situations
You ask for a statement of your employment recordSeguridad Social / SEPE · B1 in the app
→You register in the Cl@ve system for digital accessSeguridad Social / SEPE · A2 in the app
→You apply for a social security numberSeguridad Social / SEPE · A2 in the app
→You register as a jobseeker at the employment serviceSeguridad Social / SEPE · A2 in the app
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