The unemployment fund can only release confidential information in its register to the person concerned or to the authorities specifically designated in the Unemployment Security Act. Otherwise, information cannot be released without the explicit consent of the member.
You can authorize another adult to handle your unemployment fund matters using a power of attorney. With the power of attorney, the authorized person can manage your affairs and obtain the necessary information to handle these matters. Information will only be disclosed to the extent necessary to manage the case.
Content Requirements for the Power of Attorney
The power of attorney must include the following information:
- Grantor of the Power of Attorney: The name and personal identification number of the person granting the power of attorney.
- Authorized Person: The name of the authorized person. If the authorized person is, for example, a social worker or a union representative, also mention the organization.
- Matters Covered by the Power of Attorney: You can give the authorized person permission to handle all your unemployment security matters or just one specific matter. The authorized person can, for example, apply for benefits on your behalf or report changes. They may also receive your confidential information, such as details about your benefits, as necessary to carry out their duties. Specify in the power of attorney what matters the authorized person is allowed to handle, such as all unemployment security matters with the Unemployment Fund of Social and Healthcare Workers, a specific application for daily allowance, or a specific recovery of overpayment case. A separate, specific power of attorney must be drafted for each appeal case.
- Validity Period: Is the power of attorney valid for a specific period (write the time clearly in the power of attorney) or until further notice. You can also change the validity of the power of attorney or revoke the authorization at any time by notifying the unemployment fund.
- Date and Signature: The date the power of attorney was drafted and the signature of the grantor.
Use of the Power of Attorney
You can draft a power of attorney yourself in a free format or use the unemployment fund's prepared power of attorney template, which you can download in PDF format. Send the completed and signed power of attorney to the unemployment fund, for example, via WebKassa on-line-service. The power of attorney is valid until you revoke it in writing or until the specified period of validity expires. You do not need to submit a valid power of attorney separately for each service occasion.
Verbal Authorization
In telephone service, you can give a one-time verbal authorization to another person to handle your matter during that call. This requires that there is no reason to doubt your or the authorized person’s identity. The verbal authorization only applies to the specific call.
Agent without a Power of Attorney
Without a power of attorney, the unemployment fund cannot disclose your information to a third party. For example, a spouse or a union representative at your workplace cannot handle your matters without a power of attorney, even if the reasons are understandable, such as language barriers or illness. Without a power of attorney, the fund can only provide general information about unemployment security.