States of Grace 'Dole' payments around the world

From best to worst: Survey by Fenna Wächter and John Downes

1. France

Rate of support: Hugely complicated system based on a percentage of a worker's average daily wage in the 12 months prior to unemployment. The jobless are entitled to unemployment payments ranging from 40% to 75% of their earnings, with a ceiling of €6,366.80 a month. Those receiving unemployment support will get another useful once-off bonus of €500 next month, as part of the French government's response to the current downturn.

Minimum wage: €8.71 an hour.

Unemployment rate: 8.2%.

2. Denmark

Rate of support: Maximum of 3,515 kroner (€472) per week.

Minimum wage: No national minimum wage.

Unemployment rate: 2.5%.

3. Germany

Rate of support: Varies depending on your previous after-tax income, with a maximum payment of around €1,800 per month for those with children.

Minimum wage: No national minimum wage, although there are minimum wages in certain occupations.

Unemployment rate: 8.5%.

4. Japan

Rate of support: Varies depending on age and previous salary levels. Someone under 30 can receive a maximum of 6,330 yen (€47) a day, rising to a maximum of 7,730 yen (€58) for those aged 45-60.

Minimum wage: Set by regional committees, but averaged 673 yen (€5) an hour in 2007

Unemployment rate: 4.1% in January 2009.

5. Austria

Rate of support: Ranges from around €242 to €1,329 per month for those without children, and from €340 to €1,419 per month for those with children.

Minimum wage: Depends on occupation; the minimum amount of income needed to qualify for unemployment supports is €357.74 per month.

Unemployment rate: 8.3%.

6. Sweden

Rate of support: Ranges from a maximum of 7,040 kroner (€648) for "basic" insurance to a maximum of 14,960 kroner (€1,377) per month for voluntary loss-of-income insurance scheme.

Minimum wage: No minimum wages prescribed by law. Instead, wages are settled in collective agreements.

Unemployment rate: 8%.

7. Spain

Rate of support: The minimum entitlement per month is €482.44 and the maximum is €1,356.86.

Minimum wage: €624 per month.

Unemployment rate: 14%.

8. Canada

Rate of support: Maximum of $447 (€269) per week.

Minimum wage: Varies by region, the average being $8.26 (€5) per hour.

Unemployment rate: 7.7%.

9. Italy

Rate of support: Those who have worked for two
years get 60% of monthly salary for the first six
months, with reduced amounts after this and up to a maximum of €858 per month, and a max €1,013 for workers who had a monthly salary exceeding €1,857. For those who have not worked for the previous two years, but worked a minimum of 78 days, a reduced support applies, up to a maximum monthly amount of €844. This rises to €1,014 for workers who had a monthly salary of €1,826.

Minimum wage: N/A.

Unemployment rate: 6.7%.

10. Ireland

Rate of support: Jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker's allowance rates are made up of a weekly personal rate of €204.30. The system also provides for increases of €135.60 in relation to spouses or partners, and €26 in relation to qualified children. A single person with no dependents, earning €40,000 a year who has recently been made redundant, living in shared rented accommodation in Dublin and having paid PRSI for five-and-a-half years, could typically expect to receive a total of €288.20 in state supports, including rent supplement and smokeless fuel allowances. Jobseeker's benefit is paid at a maximum rate of €204.30 per week provided that the person's average weekly earnings in the governing tax year (2007) are more than €300. Automatic entitlement to free medical care is generally based on the means-tested medical-card system.

Minimum wage: Currently set at €8.65 an hour, with reduced rates for trainees and those aged under 18.

Unemployment rate: 10.4% in February 2009.

11. Finland

Rate of support: Basic level set at an average of €551 per month for those without children.

Minimum wage: No set national minimum wage – determined via collective agreements in different sectors.

Unemployment rate: 7.6%.

12. New Zealand

Rate of support: Varies from $140.31 (€60) per week for a single person aged 18-19 living at home to $210 (€90) for a 25-year-old single person away from home. $175 (€75) each for couples, and $304 (€129) for a single parent.

Minimum wage: $12.50 (€5.30) an hour (adult rate).

Unemployment rate: 4.6%.

13. Australia

Rate of support: Maximum fortnightly payment of $453.30 (€234) for a single person with no children. This rises to $490.40 (€253) for a single person with a dependent child or children, $496.40 (€257) for a single person aged 60 or over and receiving payment for nine months, and $409 (€211) each if you are a couple.

Minimum wage: $14.31 (€7.40) per hour or $543.78 (€281) per week.

Unemployment rate: 4.9% in February 2009.

14. US

Rate of support: Varies hugely from state to state, with a range of factors taken into account. For example, in New York state, someone on a $40,000 (€29,530) salary could typically expect to receive support of $650 (€480) per month.

Minimum wage: The federal minimum wage is $6.55 (€4.83) per hour. No state is allowed to have a minimum wage that is lower than the federal minimum.

Unemployment rate: 8.1% in February.

15. britain and Northern Ireland

Rate of support: Known as jobseeker's allowance, this ranges from £47.95 (€51) per week for a single person to £94.95 (€101) for a married couple, and is either income- or contribution-based. Healthcare is free at the point of
use in the UK. Prescription contributions are waived once you prove you are in receipt of supports. Support towards rent or lodging is decided by local authorities on individual basis.

Minimum wage: Three levels, ranging from £5.73 (€6.13) per hour for workers aged 22 years and above to £3.53 (€3.77) per hour for workers under the age of 18.

Unemployment rate: 6.5%.

16. Brazil

Rate of support: Set at a maximum of 870 reais (€287) per month.

Minimum wage: 465 (€153) reais a month.

Unemployment rate: 8.2%.

17. South Africa

Rate of support: Jobless are entitled to a percentage of previous salary, depending on income levels, capped at a maximum of 3,077 rand (€241).

Minimum wage: No national minimum wage. Minimum wages fluctuate depending on the profession and between rural and urban parts of the country.

Unemployment rate: 22%.

18. Latvia

Rate of support: Average 147.52LVL (€209) per month.

Minimum wage: 180 LVL (€256) per month.