The company asked me to apply for an unemployment certificate, saying it was a social security subsidy.

You can apply for subsidies after paying social security for half a year.

Procedures for applying for social security subsidies:

1. Apply for employment with street labor and social security institutions, and apply for social insurance subsidies with re-employment concession cards, social insurance payment vouchers and other related materials; 2 street labor and social security agencies to verify the employment situation of flexible employees, issue flexible employment certificates, and apply for social insurance subsidies to the local labor and social security departments at or above the county level;

3. After being audited by the labor and social security department and reviewed by the financial department, the subsidy funds will be paid directly to me; The social insurance subsidy standard is calculated according to a certain proportion of social insurance premiums actually paid by flexible employees. Specific subsidy measures shall be formulated by all provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government in accordance with the Notice on Fund Management.

Further reading: How to buy insurance, which is good, and teach you how to avoid these "pits" of insurance.