Unemployment Benefit in the Netherlands

What do you have to know when you become unemployed and wish to apply for an unemployment benefit ("WW-uitkering")? Which requirements do you have to meet? What are your rights and obligations if you receive an unemployment benefit? We have listed the most important information for you below.

What you should know about an unemployment benefit
An unemployment benefit is a temporary income in the event of unemployment.
You can apply for an unemployment benefit online at uwv.nl.
You will need a DigiD for the online application.
If you don’t have a DigiD, you may also send your application by mail. To do this, you must personally register as a jobseeker at one of the UWV offices.
UWV determines if you qualify for an unemployment benefit.
The duration of your benefit depends on the number of years you have worked before becoming unemployed.
The amount of your benefit depends on the income you have earned in the year prior to your unemployment.
If you receive an unemployment benefit you have several rights and obligations.
The most important requirements for an unemployment benefit
You can only claim an unemployment benefit if you lost your job for reasons that weren’t your fault. In addition, you must have worked at least 26 weeks in the past 36 weeks. You must also be directly available for a new job and you must stay in the Netherlands.

When receiving an unemployment benefit
If you receive an unemployment benefit, you have several rights and obligations. For example, one of these obligations is that you fill in your income statement each month and that you do your best to find a new job as quickly as possible.

Do now
Apply for an unemployment benefit
Your most important rights and obligations
You will do your best to find a new job as soon as possible by actively sending applications and accepting suitable work.
Every 4 weeks you will inform us of at least 4 applications through your workfolder ("Werkmap") on werk.nl.
Each month you will fill in the Income statement ("Inkomstenopgave").
You will provide us with correct information about yourself and your circumstances. Any changes are reported to us within one week.
You carry out the tasks in your work folder ("Werkmap").
You go to appointments at the UWV office.
You can bring someone with you to the appointment at the UWV office.
You are entitled to a maximum of 20 days of holiday per calendar year. On these days, the payment of your benefit will be continued and you are not subject to the obligation to apply for jobs.
Please note: If you do not fulfil your obligations, your benefit will be temporarily cut down or withdrawn and/or you will be fined.

About the Income statement
At the start end of each month, you will find the "Inkomstenopgave" form of the previous month on "Mijn UWV". You use this form to let us know if you have received any income. Please also fill in this form if you have not received any income. We pay your benefit within 10 calendar days receiving your Income statement.

Looking for work
You can search for vacancies and post your cv on werk.nl. On this site you can also find tips and online training sessions that may help you find work.

It pays to go back to work from a situation of unemployment. If the earnings of your new job are equal to or lower than 87.5% of your monthly unemployment benefit, your income will be supplemented by a partial unemployment benefit. So, in most cases, you will benefit financially. You can use our calculation tool to calculate the new amount of your unemployment benefit.

If you receive an unemployment benefit, you may also search for work abroad. You may only do so under certain conditions and with permission from UWV. More information about this can be found at Internationaal on uwv.nl.

More information
More detailed information can be found under the Werkloos (WW-uitkering) header on uwv.nl. Please contact them if you have any questions. Please keep your citizen service number (BSN) ready, as this allows us to service you better.

Applying for an unemployment benefit
If you become unemployed and apply for an unemployment benefit, you will have to take care of many things. The unemployment step-by-step plan shows you exactly what to do at what moment.

Do now
Apply for an unemployment benefit
1. If you know that you will soon become unemployed
Prepare yourself well

Apply for a DigiD if you do not yet have one. Please go to digid.nl.
Try to prevent unemployment by looking for a new job as soon as possible. Post your CV on werk.nl and register at vacancy sites and employment agencies.
2. 1 week before you become unemployed
Apply for an unemployment benefit

You may apply for an unemployment benefit from one week before you become unemployed.
Apply for a benefit within one week at the latest of the first day of your unemployment.
3. Once you have applied for an unemployment benefit
Follow the status of your application

Four weeks after your application you will receive a letter containing the decision. This letter tells you if you are entitled to a benefit, the amount of the benefit and the duration of the benefit.
You can follow the status of your application through "Mijn UWV".

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