In the Netherlands, if you have been ill for almost two years (88 weeks) and you are unable to work or work fewer hours due to your illness, you may be entitled to a kind of benefit known as disability benefit (WIA-uitkering). WIA stands for Werk en Inkomen naar Arbeidsvermogen (Work and Income according to Capacity).
What is the WIA benefit?
If you are ill, you may be entitled to your regular salary from your employer while taking sick leave, or sickness benefit. After you have been ill for two years, your right to salary and sickness benefit usually ends. In this case, you may be eligible for a WIA benefit. There are two types: the return-to-work benefit (WGA) and the full-invalidity benefit (IVA).
Return-to-work benefit (WGA-uitkering)
WGA stands for Werkhervatting Gedeeltelijk Arbeidsgeschikten (Return to Work Scheme for the Partially Disabled). To receive this benefit, you will need to meet the following conditions:
- You have been ill for two years or more, but you will be able to work (more) again (in the future).
- You earn 65 percent or less of your previous salary with said work. The amount you will receive when getting a return-to-work benefit depends on whether you work or not.
Full-invalidity benefit (IVA-uitkering)
IVA stands for Inkomensvoorziening Volledig Arbeidsongeschikten (Income Provision Scheme for Fully Occupationally Disabled People). You will get an IVA benefit if:
- You are 80 to 100 percent incapacitated for work.
- There is little to no chance you will get better.
The amount you receive as a full-invalidity benefit is 75 percent of your previous monthly salary.
Requirements for disability benefit in the Netherlands
You can’t apply for a WIA benefit in the following circumstances:
- You already receive a WAO benefit (a different kind of disability benefit that began to be phased out in 2006).
- You are self-employed and not insured with the UWV (instead, you should take out disability insurance to cover you).
- You live in or move to a non-treaty country.
When to apply for disability benefit
When you have been sick for 88 weeks, you will receive a letter from the UWV. From that moment on, you can apply for the WIA benefit. You will be able to submit an early application if your company doctor determines that a full recovery is not possible.
Please note that you should apply for the benefit as soon as possible, as you don't want to be left without income in the period between your sickness benefit/sick pay ending and your disability benefit starting. Generally, you have six weeks to apply for a WIA benefit.
How to apply for the WIA benefit
In order to apply for a WIA benefit, you will need to complete the WIA application form (Aanvragen WIA-uitkering) on the UWV website. You will need the following in order to apply:
- A DigiD
- Your BSN
- The date when you first became unfit for work
- The names and dates of any courses or study programmes you completed
- The names and contact details of any employers you have worked for in the past five years
If you are employed, you will also need to send the UWV your medical report and your return-to-work report. If you are receiving sickness benefit, your completed application form will be enough.
How long does it take for your application to be approved?
Generally, the UWV will confirm they have received your application within two weeks of you sending it, and they aim to give you a decision within eight weeks.
When does your disability benefit end?
Your WGA disability benefit ends on the UWV predetermined date. Your IVA benefit will stop if you:
- Get better and can earn 65 percent of your previous salary by working
- Live abroad
- Go on holiday for more than four weeks
- Have been in prison for over one month
If you are not entitled to a WIA benefit or your benefit stops, you may be able to claim the social assistance benefit.
