This paper deals with the issue of unemployment benefits and the position of persons with the status of frontier workers under the European union rules on coordination of social security systems. The first part of the paper analyses the problem of unemployment, as one of the accompanying phenomena of free movement of persons within the European union. Special attention is paid to the specific rights of former employees, which are realized through certain categories of benefits in the form of financial support or assistance in finding a new job for the purpose of employment. Particular attention is paid to the application of Regulation (EC) no. 883/2004 on the coordination of the social security systems, which enables unemployed persons to exercise their rights in cases where during their stay in the Union they have been subject to legislation of at least two Member States. The second part of the paper defines the term “frontier workers” and how such categories of persons acquire the right to benefits when working in the territory of one Member State and residing in the territory of another Member State. The example of border work between the Republic of Croatia and Italy shows certain difficulties faced by frontier workers as they are exposed to different national legislations of two countries, but also the procedure in which they can obtain specific types of employment benefits in situations of full or partial unemployment. With regard to access to active employment services for frontier workers, the importance of European union legislation guaranteeing equal treatment is emphasized. The last part of the paper analyses the case law of the Court of Justice of the European union, which trough various decisions provides interpretation of the rules in the field of coordination of unemployment benefits, in view of the problems faced by frontier workers concerning their unemployment benefits in crossborder situations.