If you become sick and are unable to work, the Netherlands provides a safety net so that you will usually continue to receive an income, whether or not you are employed. This page looks at everything you need to know about sick pay and the sickness benefit in the Netherlands.
Sick pay in the Netherlands
If you are in paid employment in the Netherlands and you become ill and unable to work, your employer will continue to pay you a portion of your salary for up to two years. This is known as sick pay.
All employees are entitled to sick pay, no matter what type of work contract they have. If you have a fixed-term employment contract, then your employer is only obliged to pay you sick pay until the end date of your contract. At this point, if you are still unwell, you can apply for sickness benefits (see below).
How much sick pay will I receive?
Your employer is obliged to pay you at least 70% of your salary for a maximum period of two years. This figure should take into account all wage components that you would have received under normal circumstances, including overtime, personal allowances and other benefits.
If this amounts to less than the minimum wage, then your employer will supplement your earnings to make up the difference, but only for the first year. If you remain unwell and continue to receive sick pay for a second year, you will receive 70% of your normal wages, even if this is less than the minimum wage.
If your sickness relates to pregnancy, giving birth or an organ donation, you are entitled to receive 100% of your normal wages as sick pay.
Reintegration to the workplace
While you are receiving sick pay, your employer is also obliged to make efforts to help you get back to work. This is known as “reintegration” or a “return-to-work plan” (re-integratietraject).
As an employee receiving sick pay, you are required to cooperate with these efforts, and if you do not your employer can temporarily discontinue your sick pay. This can even be grounds for dismissal.
What happens if I am ill for longer than two years?
After two years, your employer is no longer required to continue giving you sick pay. What happens next is up to your employer; they can either:
- Voluntarily extend your sick pay entitlement (for instance if you are likely to soon return to work)
- Dismiss you and ask you to apply for the occupational disability benefit (WIA) instead
Sickness benefit in the Netherlands (ziektewet-uitkering)
If your employer is not required to continue paying your salary, or you do not have an employer, you may be entitled to receive the sickness benefit. This benefit will provide you with a temporary income while you are unable to work due to illness.
Requirements for sickness benefit
To qualify for sickness benefit in the Netherlands, you need to meet the following criteria:
When you have an employer and you become ill
Most employees will continue to receive a salary from their employer if they become ill and are unable to work. However, there are some exceptions. Rather than receiving a salary from your employer, you will receive the sickness benefit in the following circumstances:
- You become ill during pregnancy or childbirth.
- You are covered by a no-risk policy.
- You become ill due to organ donation.
- Your employment contract is about to end.
- You are not employed, but are classed as an employee for tax purposes (fictief dienstverband).
When you do not have an employer and you become ill
If you do not have an employer, you are not insured under the Sickness Benefits Act (Ziektewet), which means you are not entitled to the sickness benefit. However, there are some exceptions:
- You are a temporary worker
- You are an on-call or substitute worker
- You are receiving unemployment benefits
- You are receiving a WIA, WAO, Wajong or WAZ benefit
- You became ill within four weeks of the termination of your contract
- You are voluntarily insured under the Sickness Benefit Act
- You are still working after reaching state pension age and you become ill
When you are self-employed and you become ill
If you are self-employed and you become ill, you will only get the sickness benefit if you have voluntary income protection coverage (vrijwillige verzekering). You can apply for voluntary income protection coverage via the UWV website. Some private insurance companies also offer sick pay coverage for self-employed workers.
How much sickness benefit will I get?
How much sickness benefit you will get depends on your personal situation and your income. Generally, you will get at least 70 percent of your daily wage. Your daily wage is calculated based on the wage that you earned in the year before you became ill, divided by 261.
How to apply for the sickness benefit
If you are entitled to the sickness benefit, and you work for an employer, they will apply for you.
If you don't have an employer, you will have to report your illness to the UWV within 48 hours of falling ill. Generally, the UWV will confirm whether you are eligible for sickness benefit within four weeks.
In the Netherlands, you will be entitled to sickness benefit for a maximum of two years, but it’s important to note that you will have certain obligations during this time. Obligations include being reachable at all times, needing to be available for all appointments with the UWV, and taking part in any evaluations they may require.
What happens if you are still ill after your sickness benefit ends?
In most cases, your sickness benefit ends once you have been ill for two years. If you are still ill after this time, you may be entitled to disability benefit (WIA). You will receive a letter about this from the UWV after 88 weeks of illness.