Applying for permission to study if you are receiving an unemployment benefit and worked in the Public Sector and Education

• You are currently receiving an unemployment benefit. 
• You worked in the Public Sector and Education before receiving the unemployment benefit.

To apply for permission to follow a course, complete the online form ‘Apply for permission to study if you worked in the Public Sector and Education’ (‘Aanvragen toestemming voor het volgen van een opleiding als u werkte bij de overheid of in het onderwijs’). You will need a DigiD account and your citizen service number (‘BSN’) to complete the form. 

If you continue to meet the job search requirement while you are following your course, you do not need to take any further action.

You might qualify for an exemption while you are studying if you follow a course that increases your chances of finding a job. If you would like to request an exemption, after submitting the permission to study application form to us digitally you should download it or print a copy and send it to your former employer.

They will then need to complete the ‘Former employer’s return-to-work recommendation form’ (‘Advies van ex-werkgever over re-integratie’). They must print this and the permission to study application form that you have already sent to them, and return both forms to us on your behalf.

You will usually receive a decision from us within 2 weeks. If you have requested an exemption form the job search requirement, your former employer will be informed of our decision as well.