Conditions for unemployment benefits

Any professional or employee who is forced to quit their job for a variety of reasons, or who is in the middle of a professional retraining period, is entitled to unemployment benefits. To be able to take advantage of the unemployment benefits in the Netherlands, you must meet certain conditions, but we will discuss each of them separately.

Moreover, applying for unemployment benefits in the Netherlands is a fairly simple process, but for an employee or a person who has never benefited from this right before, there are some details that you will also learn from this article.

The Dutch Employees' Insurance Agency

When you have lost your job due to health reasons or because something has taken you by surprise, UWV is the agency that will take care of all the steps, documents, and files necessary for unemployment benefits in the Netherlands. The UWV or Uitvoeringsinstitut Werknemersverzekeringen is an independent administrative agency that works directly with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment in the Netherlands. It can also be identified by the abbreviation SZW.

All employees who need unemployment benefits in the Netherlands or benefits for health reasons will work directly with the UWV. The UWV is also the agency responsible for helping them to find work in the Netherlands, maternity leave, or the management of the situations of those who have lost their jobs.

UWV is an agency that can be very helpful for expats as it can also help to identify the best job offers for skilled, as well as unskilled people. And in special cases where legislative details need to be clarified, the UWV can be of great help.

Eligibility requirements for unemployment benefits in the Netherlands

The first and most important rule of thumb to keep in mind when receiving unemployment benefits in the Netherlands is that as soon as you start receiving this benefit, you are obliged to look for another job. Moreover, you have to prove that you have applied for the jobs, a verification that is done by a functionary of the UWV itself.

However, not everyone can receive unemployment benefits in the Netherlands. There are certain rules and requirements that make you eligible for such a benefit. Here they are:

The 26-36 Week Rule

An employee or former employee is eligible for unemployment benefits in the Netherlands if they have been employed with a contract for at least 26 weeks out of the last 36 calendar weeks before the first day of the unemployment period. This condition is valid for people who are under the age of 65 and are able to work.

Important: People who only meet the 26-36 week requirement are only eligible for unemployment benefits in the Netherlands for a maximum of 3 months. If additional conditions are also met, this will be determined by the responsible agency, UWV.

Unemployment benefits in the Netherlands according to years worked

If you have worked for several years in the Netherlands and you consider that you can benefit from unemployment, or if after a long time you were forced to give up your job, here are the minimum requirements to be able to receive this allowance. If, before the first day of unemployment, the employee has worked at least 52 days in four of the last five calendar years, he will be eligible for the allowance.

To be able to make a correct estimate, the number of months of unemployment is equal to the number of years eligible for this allowance.

How to apply for unemployment benefits in the Netherlands - Step by Step

The easiest way to apply for unemployment benefits in the Netherlands is online at Werk.nl. The platform is in Dutch, but with an automatic translation in the browser, it should be quite simple to go through the necessary steps. You can apply for unemployment benefits in the Netherlands from the very first day you are no longer employed, and you will need the DigiD code as well as the BSN. On the DB Work blog, you will find guides on how to obtain each of these.

After applying online, you will receive a phone call from a UWV agent to schedule an appointment with an agency consultant. In addition, you will also receive a letter in the post containing an application form for unemployment benefits. This is just a safety measure for those who want to apply again in case some information has been filled in wrongly on the online form.

If you will send this form by post, you must also include in your file the termination agreement, a certified copy of the last pay slip, the original employment contract, an official document attesting to the possession of the BSN and a valid ID.

Eligibility period for unemployment benefits in the Netherlands

As a general rule, every year of work under an employment contract will give you the opportunity to receive one month of unemployment benefits in the Netherlands. The minimum period of unemployment is 3 months, while the maximum period is 38 months.

The amount of unemployment benefits in the Netherlands is different depending on the salary you had through the employment contract. Based on your former salary, a daily payment will be calculated, which is then multiplied by 21.75, and the result is the amount of unemployment you will receive each month.

Conclusion

If you meet all the necessary requirements, the approval of unemployment will be quite fast, and you will even be able to receive your money for the last months in which you were not employed. Fill in the information as accurately as possible and double check before submitting the application.

If you need more information, the DB Work team is more than glad to help you with anything you need. And if you want to get a job in the Netherlands, you can always check the list of available jobs at DB Wor