According to estimates by the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund (Haigekassa), the unemployment insurance benefit is to be awarded to 20,800 people this year in the total amount of €52.5 million. While the number of recipients is not estimated to change significantly in the next few years, the necessary amount of money is seen to increase by 5-6% per year to €65.7 million in 2022, it appears from a draft government regulation establishing unemployment insurance premiums.

Hence the sum total necessary for the payout of unemployment insurance benefits will increase, mainly as a result of the general increase in wages.

The size of the unemployment insurance benefit per calendar day is 50% of the insured person's average wage per calendar day for the period until 100 calendar days after loss of employment and 40% for the period of 101 to 360 calendar days after loss of employment.

The cost of the unemployment insurance benefit accounts for only one-third of the total expenses of unemployment insurance. In 2019, for instance, expenses for the payment of unemployment insurance benefits are planned to total €55.3 million , expenses for the payment of the benefit upon lay-off €13.3 million, expenses for the payment of the benefit upon insolvency of the employer €4.2 million, expenses for the payment of social tax on the benefits €12.9 million, labour market services and benefits €32.4 million, and Haigekassa's operating expenses €45.1 million, making for a total of €163.1 million.