You join the ILOE Involuntary Loss of Employment scheme by subscribing through the official ILOE portal, app, or an approved payment channel and paying the premium for your salary category — and you must stay subscribed continuously for at least 12 months before you can claim. If you then lose your job for a reason other than resignation or disciplinary dismissal, you file the claim within the deadline and, if approved, receive a monthly payout of 60% of your average basic salary for up to three months while you look for work. It is cheap, mandatory for most employees, and worth setting up correctly today.
Quick facts
- Who must join: Most federal and private-sector employees in the UAE, including free zone employees in most cases — check your category on the ILOE portal
- Cost: Category A (basic salary AED 16,000 or less) typically around AED 5 per month plus VAT; Category B (above AED 16,000) typically around AED 10 per month plus VAT — check the portal for the current premium
- Payout: 60% of average basic salary for up to 3 months, subject to category caps
- Where it happens: ILOE website and app, exchange houses, telecom and banking channels listed on the portal
- Key rule: 12 months of continuous subscription before a claim can be paid
Step-by-step: Subscribe correctly
- Confirm your category. Your premium and maximum payout depend on your basic salary as shown on your MOHRE or free zone contract — not your total package with allowances. Category A covers basic salaries up to AED 16,000; Category B covers higher salaries and has a higher monthly cap.
- Subscribe on the official portal. Go to the ILOE website or app, sign in with your Emirates ID details, verify your mobile number and employment details, and check that your employer and basic salary shown are correct. If they are wrong, fix them with your employer first — a mismatch will delay any claim.
- Choose your payment period. You can pay monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or annually. Annual payment is the safest choice for most people: it prevents an accidental lapse when a card expires, and a lapse breaks your continuous coverage.
- Pay through a reliable channel. Use the portal, the ILOE app, or an approved channel such as an exchange house or your bank. Keep the certificate of insurance and payment receipt — download the PDF rather than relying on an SMS.
- Set a renewal reminder. Note the expiry date in your calendar a month early. If you change jobs, check that your subscription is still active under your new employment; do not assume your new employer pays it for you unless they confirm it in writing.
- Check your status twice a year. Log in and confirm you are shown as active with no gap. Correcting a gap now is an inconvenience; discovering it after a job loss means no payout.
How to claim after a job loss
File your claim through the ILOE portal or app within 30 days of your unemployment date — treat this deadline as strict and file in the first week if you can. You will need your Emirates ID, your claim details, and supporting documents such as your visa cancellation and evidence of why your employment ended. The insurer checks that you were subscribed for at least 12 consecutive months, that you did not resign voluntarily and were not dismissed for disciplinary reasons under UAE labour law, and that you remain in the UAE legally during the claim period. Approved payments are made monthly for up to three months, capped at typically around AED 10,000 per month for Category A and AED 20,000 for Category B — check the portal for the current caps. If you find a new job, payments stop, which is exactly what the scheme is designed for: a bridge, not an income.
Who is covered and who is not
The scheme covers employees in the federal government and private sector, but there are exclusions — including temporary contract workers in some categories, domestic workers, juveniles, pensioners who have taken a new job, and employees of certain categories listed on the portal. Investors and business owners on investor visas without an employment relationship are generally not covered in the same way. If you are unsure, the portal’s eligibility check using your Emirates ID is the fastest answer, and MOHRE can confirm your employment category. Do not rely on a colleague’s experience in a different free zone or contract type.
Common mistakes to avoid
The costliest mistake is letting the subscription lapse for even a short period and restarting the 12-month clock without realising it. The second is subscribing in the wrong salary category to save a few dirhams — your payout is then based on the wrong category and queries will follow. Others include waiting too long to file after termination, leaving the UAE for a long period while claiming without checking the residency conditions, and assuming resignation is covered — it is not. Keep your termination letter, final settlement and visa cancellation paperwork together in one folder from the day your job ends; gathering them under stress is what causes most missed deadlines.
FAQ
Can I claim ILOE if I resign?
No. The scheme covers involuntary loss of employment. Voluntary resignation and dismissal for disciplinary reasons are excluded. If your situation is a mutual termination, keep the paperwork showing the employer’s decision and ask ILOE to assess it.
How much will I actually receive each month?
60% of your average basic salary over the period used by the scheme, for up to three months, subject to your category cap. Allowances are not counted. Check your certificate for your exact cap.
What if I have not subscribed for 12 months yet?
You cannot be paid until you have completed 12 consecutive months of subscription. Subscribe now and keep it continuous — that is the only way to protect a future claim. Late-joining fines may also apply, so do not delay.
