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Social security

  • Buying back voluntary pension insurance

    The Dutch old age pension is an pension for everyone aged 65 and over who lives or has lived in the Netherlands. If you live in the Netherlands, you will normally build up rights to an old age pension automatically. If you do not live in the Netherlands, this will not be the case. As a result, you will be entitled to a lower old age pension. If you first start living or working in the Netherlands for a long period of time after your 15th birthday, you may be able to take out voluntary insurance under the Dutch old age pension scheme. By doing so, you can also build up rights to old age pension for the years before you came to live in the Netherlands. We refer to this as buying back pension rights.

    More information on voluntary insurance and buying back old age pension rights http://www.svb.nl/int/en/vv/nieuw_in_nederland/u_komt_in_nl_wonen_of_werken/

  • Child Benefit

    People who live in the Netherlands and have children may be eligible for child benefit. Whether child benefit is payable, and if so, how much, depends on various factors, including the child’s age and country of residence.

    More information about child benefit http://www.svb.nl/int/en/kinderbijslag/index.jsp

  • Child care benefit

    Will your children be going to day care after you move to the Netherlands? Then you are most likely eligible for a childcare benefit. This is a subsidy to help cover the costs of childcare. In order to receive a childcare benefit, both you and your benefit partner must be employed or studying. You can also receive the benefit if you are not employed, but your chances of finding work are increased if you follow, for example, a re-integration programme via UWV or the municipality. Furthermore, your child must go to a registered childcare organisation. Do you want to apply for a childcare benefit? You can do this at the Dutch Tax Administration.

    Read more about the childcare benefit http://www.toeslagen.nl/particulier/kinderopvangtoeslag.html

    There is no childcare benefit site available in English

  • Health care benefit

    Do you have Dutch health care insurance? Then you may be eligible for a health care benefit. You must be over 18, have the Dutch nationality and your income may not be too high. Do you reside in the Netherlands but work abroad, and do you not have Dutch health care insurance? Then you are not eligible for a health care benefit. Would you like to apply for a health care benefit? You can do this at the Dutch Tax Administration.

    Read more about health care benefits http://www.toeslagen.nl/particulier/zorgtoeslag.html

    There is no health care benefit site available in English

  • Health insurance

    In the Netherlands there are two statutory forms of insurance that are relevant to the field of medical care and nursing:

    • the Zorgverzekeringswet (Zvw, Health Insurance Act) covers the costs of 'normal' medical care such as G.P. visits, hospitalisation and pharmacy prescriptions. The Zvw is also referred to as basic insurance;
    • the Algemene Wet Bijzondere Ziektekosten (AWBZ, General Exceptional Medical Expenses Act) covers the costs of exceptional and in particular expensive care, such as long-term nursing and home-care. The AWBZ is one of the national insurances in the Netherlands.

    As a resident in the Netherlands, in principle you will automatically be insured for the AWBZ and you will be obliged to take out basic insurance. This can be obtained with one of the many health insurers.

    You will pay a percent contribution for both the Zvw and the AWBZ, for example, via a deduction from your wages or via a tax assessment. In addition to this you will also pay – directly to the health insurer – a flat-rate contribution for the Zvw for yourself and for every co-insured family-member who is older than 17 years of age; the size of this contribution varies per health insurer. Lastly, per calendar year there is a €150 personal risk that applies for every insured person.

    If you have too little income to be able to pay the full Zvw-contribution, then you can apply for financial compensation from the Dutch Tax Authorities: the so-called care allowance.

    Exceptions

    You may come from a country with which the Netherlands has entered into an agreement in the field of social security; this applies in any case to all EU countries. In this case your personal circumstances may be such that you are not eligible for direct insurance via the Zvw and the AWBZ. For example, because you still have statutory health insurance in your former country of residence. The health insurer with whom you register can provide you with more information about this.

  • Housing benefit

    Are you planning to rent a home in the Netherlands? And do you spend a large portion of your income on rent? Then you may be eligible for a subsidy for the rental costs: the rent supplement. If you are eligible for the rent supplement depends on, among other things, your age and living situation. You can apply for the rent supplement at the Dutch Tax Administration.

    Read more about the rent supplement http://www.toeslagen.nl/particulier/huurtoeslag.html

    There is no rent supplement site available in English

  • If you are sent on secondment

    If you start working in the Netherlands, you will become insured in the Netherlands against illness, maternity, disability, accidents at work and occupational illnesses and unemployment, and you will be covered by the schemes for old age pension, survivor benefit, and child benefit. However, if you are posted to work in the Netherlands temporarily by a non-Dutch employer, you may continue to be insured in the country you are from, provided that this country is an European Union or treaty country and you have been issued an E101 certificate.

    Read the leaflet, ' Working in the Netherlands http://bestel.postbus51.nl/content/pdf/15BR2006G041-2006725-10454.pdf'

  • If you follow a course or study

    If you are under 30 and are exclusively staying in the Netherlands to study, you will normally not be covered by the national insurance schemes for old age pension, survivor benefit, child benefit and exceptional medical expenses. However, if your circumstances change, for instance, if you start working as well, or if you are over 30, you may be insured under these schemes. In that case, if you want to check whether you are insured, contact the Sociale Verzekeringsbank.

    Sociale Verzekeringsbank http://www.svb.nl/int/en/aow/wat_is_de_aow/wie_krijgt_aow/wie_is_verzekerd/

  • If you receive a non-Dutch benefit

    If you are living in the Netherlands and receiving a non-Dutch benefit, or a benefit from an organization under international law, such as North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) or the European Union , you may not have to pay contributions for the old age pension, survivor benefit and child benefit schemes. This is known as exemption.

    More information about exemption http://www.svb.nl/int/en/aow/wat_is_de_aow/ontheffing_verzekeringsplicht/

  • If you work outside the Netherlands

    If you start living in the Netherlands, you will, as a rule, become covered by the Dutch national insurance schemes for old age pension, survivor benefit, child benefit and exceptional medical expenses. However, if you continue to work outside the Netherlands, you will not be insured in the Netherlands. There are also different rules for people who work in more than one country. In that case, the precise rules will depend on the countries where you work.

    Check whether you are insured or not http://www.svb.nl/int/en/aow/wat_is_de_aow/wie_krijgt_aow/wie_is_verzekerd/

  • Income dependent Child benefit

    Will you be residing in the Netherlands and do you have children under the age of 18? Is your income less than € 46,700 per year? Then you are most likely eligible for a child benefit. You must (start) receive a family allowance. Or, if your child is 16 or 17 years of age, you must provide the majority of the child’s care.

    You will receive the child benefit from the Dutch Tax Administration. Applying for a child benefit is usually not necessary. You will automatically receive information if you qualify for a child benefit. But the Tax Administration does not have sufficient data regarding some groups of society and is therefore not always able to automatically determine who qualifies for a child benefit. Have you not yet received information regarding a child benefit, but you do think you qualify? Then you can apply for a child benefit yourself at the Tax Administration.

    Read more about child benefit http://www.toeslagen.nl/particulier/kindertoeslag.html

    child benefit who, what, when http://www.toeslagen.nl/particulier/kindertoeslag.html

    There is no benefit site available in English

  • Old Age Pension, age 65 and over

    If you are 65 or over and lived or worked in the Netherlands between your 15th and 65th birthdays, you may be eligible for an Old Age Pension.

    Your entitlement to and the amount of your pension depend on your insurance record (your periods of residence or employment in the Netherlands), your domestic situation and the age of your partner, if you have one.

    More information about old age pension http://www.svb.nl/int/en/aow/

  • Supplementary benefit while you live in Holland

    Do you receive a foreign sickness, unemployment or occupational disability benefit? It may be that in some cases this benefit is below the Dutch subsistence level. You may be entitled to supplementary benefit in that case. This Dutch supplementary benefit depends among others on the composition of your family and the overall income of your family. You may apply for the supplementary benefit at the Workers Insurance Authority UWV. If you are entitled to this supplementary benefit, you will receive it as long as you receive your benefit and you (together with your family) receive an income which is below the subsistence level that applies to you.

    You are also entitled to a supplementary benefit when you receive a Dutch benefit and your (family) income is below the subsistence level that applies to you.

    www.uwv.nl http://www.uwv.nl/particulieren/actueel/information-for-immigrants.aspx

  • Work and Social Assistance Act

    If you are 65 or over, and have not built up rights to a full Old Age Pension, you may be entitled to income support under the Work and Social Assistance Act to top up your pension. You can claim this from your municipality, or from the Sociale VerzekeringsBank if it pays the income support for your municipality.

    Check for which municipalities you can claim income support from the Sociale VerzekeringsBank http://www.svb.nl/internet/nl/regelingen/bijstand_wwb/index.jsp

  • You are unfit for work and live and work in Holland

    You live and are gainfully employed in the Netherlands. In that case you are covered by the Dutch workers insurance scheme. If you have been ill for 104 weeks you may be entitled to occupational disability benefit. After a medical examination the Workers Insurance Authority UWV decides whether you are unfit for work or not.

    Do you have form 101? The social insurance regulations of another treaty country or EU/EEA country apply to you. Your application will in that case not be dealt with by the UWV but by the foreign institution. You can, however, submit the application to the UWV. The UWV will forward it to the sister institution abroad. You may of course also send the application directly to that foreign institution. The UWV will carry out the medical examination. On the basis of the results of the examination the institution abroad decides whether you are unfit for work or not.

    If you have been employed in another treaty country or EU/EEA country you may already receive a benefit from that country. The benefit you receive from abroad will, in that case, be deducted from your occupational disability benefit.

    If you come from a country with which the Netherlands does not have a treaty, Dutch social security regulations apply to you.

    www.uwv.nl http://www.uwv.nl/particulieren/actueel/information-for-immigrants.aspx

  • You are unfit for work and you live in Holland

    You live in the Netherlands and are gainfully employed abroad. This means that you are not covered by the Dutch workers insurance scheme. If you are ill for a longer period of time you are not entitled to an occupational disability benefit. You may apply for the benefit at the institution in your country of residence.

    Did you work in a treaty country or EU/EEA country and has your sickness benefit ended? In that case you may apply for an occupational disability benefit at the Workers Insurance Authority UWV. The UWV will forward your application to the sister institution abroad. You may of course also send the application directly to that institution. A UWV doctor will carry out the medical examination on behalf of the foreign institution. On the basis of the results of the examination the institution abroad decides whether you are unfit for work or not.

    If you have been employed in another treaty country or EU/EEA country you may already receive a benefit from that country. The foreign institution will find that out for you.

    Do you have form 101 stating that you are insured in the Netherlands? If you have been ill for 104 weeks you may be entitled to an occupational disability benefit. After a medical examination the UWV will decide whether you are unfit for work or not. If you receive an occupational disability benefit from another treaty country or EU/EEA country it will be deducted.

    www.uwv.nl http://www.uwv.nl/particulieren/actueel/information-for-immigrants.aspx

  • You are unfit for work and you work in Holland

    You live abroad and are gainfully employed in the Netherlands. If you have been ill for 104 weeks you may be entitled to occupational disability benefit.

    Do you live in a treaty country or EU/EEA country? The medical examination will be carried out by a doctor in your country of residence. After the examination the Workers Insurance Authority UWV will see what your remaining possibilities are and subsequently decide whether you are unfit for work or not. If you have worked in another treaty country or EU/EEA country you may already receive a benefit from that country. The benefit you receive from abroad will in that case be deducted from your occupational disability benefit.

    Do you live in a country with which the Netherlands does not have a benefit export treaty? In that case you do not qualify for a Capacity for Work Act Benefit (WIA) as long as you live there. The benefit can only be paid to you once you reside in an EU/EEA country or a country with which the Netherlands has a benefit export treaty.

    Do you have form 101? The social security regulations of another treaty country or EU/EEA country apply to you. You will in that case receive a benefit in accordance with the regulations of the country that has issued the form. The institution in your country of residence decides in that case if you are entitled to a benefit.

    www.uwv.nl http://www.uwv.nl/particulieren/actueel/information-for-immigrants.aspx

  • You become ill and live and work in Holland

    You live and are gainfully employed in the Netherlands. Are you ill? You have to report sick to your employer and will receive at least 70% of your wages.

    Do you have form 101? The social insurance regulations of another treaty country or EU/EEA country apply to you. You will in that case receive a benefit in accordance with the regulations of the country that has issued the form (usually your country of residence). The Workers Insurance Authority UWV will send your medical report to the foreign institution paying your benefit.

    www.uwv.nl http://www.uwv.nl/particulieren/actueel/information-for-immigrants.aspx

  • You become ill and you live in Holland

    You live in the Netherlands and you work in a treaty country or an EU/EEA member state. The regulations of that particular country apply to you and that country decides whether you are entitled to a benefit in case of illness.

    You have to report sick to your employer and also as soon as possible to the Workers Insurance Authority UWV (at the latest within three days). The UWV will send your medical report to the foreign institution paying your benefit.

    Do you live in the Netherlands and do you work in a country with which there is no treaty? If you are ill, the regulations of that particular country apply in that case. You can get relevant information from you employer.

    Do you have form 101, stating that you are insured in the Netherlands? In that case Dutch regulations apply to you. You report sick to your employer and you will receive at least 70% of your wages.

    www.uwv.nl http://www.uwv.nl/particulieren/actueel/information-for-immigrants.aspx

  • You become ill and you work in Holland

    You are employed in the Netherlands. When you turn ill, you will receive at least 70% of your wages.

    Do you live in another EU/EEA country or a treaty country? You also have to report sick to the institution which pays the sickness benefit in your country of residence.

    Are you ill and will you stay in the Netherlands in the time to come? Please report sick to your employer as soon as possible.

    Do you have form 101? The regulations of another treaty country or EU/EEA country apply to you. You will in that case receive a benefit in accordance with the rules of the country that has issued the form (usually the country you live in). You have to report sick in accordance with the regulations of that country Are you in the Netherlands for a longer period of time, please also report sick to the Workers Insurance Authority UWV as soon as possible (at the latest within three days). The UWV will send your medical report to the foreign institution paying your benefit.

    www.uwv.nl http://www.uwv.nl/particulieren/actueel/information-for-immigrants.aspx

  • You become unemployed and live and work in Holland

    You live and were gainfully employed in the Netherlands. Did you, in the 36 weeks before your unemployment, work for at least 26 weeks?

    Then you are probably entitled to unemployment benefit.

    The unemployment benefit consists of a basic benefit and a prolonged benefit. The basic benefit lasts for three months. Have you, in the past 5 years, worked at least 4 years in the Netherlands or an EU/EEA country? Then you are probably also entitled to a prolonged benefit. The duration of this benefit depends on the number of years you have worked.

    Have you worked in a country which has a treaty with the Netherlands? In that case the time you were gainfully employed in that country is often taken into account for your unemployment benefit. This may differ per treaty country.

    www.uwv.nl http://www.uwv.nl/particulieren/actueel/information-for-immigrants.aspx

  • You become unemployed and you live in Holland

    You live in the Netherlands and are gainfully employed abroad. In that case you are not covered by the Dutch workers insurance scheme. You are only entitled to unemployment benefit in the Netherlands if you:

    • have worked in an EU/EEA country or a treaty country and you are going to live and work in the Netherlands. If you become subsequently unemployed, you are entitled to unemployment benefit. In that case it is not important how long you have worked in the Netherlands, because the Workers Insurance Authority UWV adds up all the periods you have worked including periods worked in any EU/EEA country and some treaty countries. This means that you comply with the conditions faster.
    • keep working in another EU/EEA country after you have moved to the Netherlands and then become unemployed. In that case you are also entitled to unemployment benefit in the Netherlands. You do not have to work first in the Netherlands. In that case the time you have worked in the other EU/EEA country is considered time you worked in the Netherlands by the UWV.

    www.uwv.nl http://www.uwv.nl/particulieren/actueel/information-for-immigrants.aspx

  • You become unemployed and you work in Holland

    You are gainfully employed in the Netherlands and you live abroad. You are in that case not entitled to unemployment benefit in the Netherlands.

    Do you live in an EU/EEA country? In that case you may apply for a benefit at the relevant institution in your country of residence. It does not matter that you have worked this period in the Netherlands. The institution in your country of residence will process your application as if you worked in that country.

    Do you live in a country with which the Netherlands has a treaty? In that case the time you worked in the Netherlands is not immediately taken into account. You will first have to have worked for a while in your country. Do you become unemployed again? Then the institution in your country of residence does take into account the time you worked in the Netherlands. This means that you comply faster with the conditions.

    Do you stay in the Netherlands after your unemployment? In that case you may apply for unemployment benefit in the Netherlands. You may apply for the benefit at the Workers Insurance Authority UWV. The time you worked in another EU/EEA country is taken into account. If you worked in a treaty country this may differ per treaty country.

    www.uwv.nl http://www.uwv.nl/particulieren/actueel/information-for-immigrants.aspx

  • Your old age pension at the age of 65

    The Dutch old age pension is an pension for everyone aged 65 and over who lives or has lived in the Netherlands. If you live in the Netherlands, you will normally build up rights to an old age pension automatically. If you do not live in the Netherlands, this will not be the case. As a result, you will be entitled to a lower old age pension. If you have lived or worked in the Netherlands in the past, it will be important for you to know how much old age pension you will be entitled to when you reach the pensionable age.

    Check how much old age pension you will get http://www.svb.nl/int/en/aow/

  • Your social insurance in the Netherlands

    If you start working as an employee in the Netherlands, you will be insured against illness, maternity, disability, accidents at work and occupational illnesses and unemployment, and you will be covered by the schemes for old age pension, survivor benefit, and child benefit. if you start working in the Netherlands, but not as an employee, or you are not working but living in the Netherlands, you will be covered by the schemes for old age pension, survivor benefit, and child benefit. There are exceptions, however.

    Check whether you are insured http://www.svb.nl/int/en/aow/wat_is_de_aow/wie_krijgt_aow/wie_is_verzekerd/