I recently started claiming unemployment. The amount my Arbeitslosenkasse (Unia) is paying really doesn't make any sense - I've done the math many times. Even without holiday compensation and overtime money, my average salary for the last 6 months in my job is still more than 1000 francs higher than the insured amount they have come up with.
I have already written them an e-mail, within the 3 month limit described at the bottom of their monthly account statement, listing down my 6 last salary amounts, pointing out the discrepancy and asking for a correction. I have received an auto acknowledgement by e-mail, and nothing else. That was about 2 months ago.
What is my next step? Is there any kind of subsidised legal clinic or a service similar to the citizens' advice bureau in the UK that I can turn to with this and who can either advise me how to either get the ALK to pay the difference or explain to me why I'm wrong? (I'm in Bern, if that makes a difference.)
And since you are with the UNIA Arbeitslosenklasse, you might want to ask UNIA (a labour union) for legal help... they might have a conflict of interest though...
In my experience - even in 2022 - in Switzerland mails don't always achieve as much as a phonecall, or a visit in person.
Also, it can help (to get the job done) if your message is not "your calculation is wrong; please correct it" but instead "may I come to see you because I want to get back to work asap, and in the meantime I don't understand the calculation, and would like you please to explain it to me".
As roegner says, the difference might have arisen between your list of your 6 last salary amounts, and their using, perhaps, your salary amounts over a longer period.
No, the unemployment money is paid by a ‘caisse’ of which UNIA is one. There are others available and the unemployed person can choose which ‘caisse’ they want to use.
To the OP there is a maximum salary amount for which unemployment benefits are calculated so anything you earn above this amount won’t be taken into consideration plus you only get 70 or 80% of your salary if you’re unemployed depending on your family circumstances.
In my experience with UNIA in Bern is that they always err on the employee's side if there is anything in it. I've even had payments from them before they received all my documentation.
You next move, should have been your first move - pop along to their office and ask them to explain it to you. If there is an error they'll be quick to fix it.
The insured salary for unemployment insurance is capped at something like 140k per year.
If you check your payslips for a line for the unemployment insurance contributions you might see the amount it's based on. Use these figures for you calculations.