unemployment benefit
noun [ C or U ]
UK ukus( US unemployment benefits [ plural ]) GOVERNMENT
money that the government pays regularly to unemployed people who are looking for a job. The term "unemployment benefit" was officially replaced in the UK by "Jobseeker's Allowance" in 1996:
Some people consider that generous unemployment benefits have harmed the UK economy.
Figures showed that 50,000 people in the region were on unemployment benefit.
claim/receive unemployment benefit The number of people claiming unemployment benefit fell last week by 1,500 to 2.18 million.
A Labour Department report said people collecting unemployment benefits rose to the highest level in 18 months.
See also
Jobseeker's Allowance