The IOW benefit
Perhaps you are 60 or older but have not yet reached the state pension age. If your unemployment or WGA benefit ends in this phase of your life, you might qualify for an IOW benefit. This benefit bridges the gap that can arise for people who are 60 or older and whose benefit ended before their retirement started.
What are the general criteria for an IOW benefit?
- You were receiving an unemployment or salary-linked WGA benefit before 1 January 2020 and were 60 or older on your first day of unemployment. Or, if you started claiming one of these benefits on or after 1 January 2020, you were at least 60 years and 4 months on your first day of unemployment.
- Your unemployment or WGA benefit is ending because you reached the limit of how long you were entitled to this benefit for.
- You live in the Netherlands.
Please note: If you had an unemployment benefit, you must have received this benefit for more than 3 months to qualify for an IOW benefit.
Additional criteria if you had an unemployment benefit before your WGA benefit
- You were 60 or older when you started claiming your unemployment benefit and you started receiving your WGA benefit before 1 January 2020. Or, if you started claiming your WGA benefit on or after 1 January 2020, you were at least 60 years and 4 months when you started receiving your unemployment benefit.
Your obligations while receiving an IOW benefit
Many of your obligations while receiving an IOW benefit will be similar to the obligations you had while receiving an unemployment or WGA benefit. For example, you must to do the following:
- Report any change in your circumstances. Make sure you do this within 1 week of that change occurring.
- Report any change in income that you are receiving in addition to your IOW benefit.
- Inform us if you become ill. Call UWV Telefoon Werknemers on the first day of your illness.
- Inform us of your recovery within 48 hours.
- Inform us of your holiday plans. You are usually entitled to 20 days’ holiday leave at most. But, if you reach the state pension age within a year, you will be entitled to 65 days’ holiday leave.
How much will you get?
If you are entitled to an IOW benefit, you will not receive more than the minimum set for people living on their own (‘sociaal minimuum’). This is the minimum amount a person needs to meet their basic needs.
There are situations in which your IOW benefit will be lower than the minimum set for people living on their own:
- If your average monthly income (on an unemployment or WGA benefit) was below the minimum for people living alone, you will receive 70% of this average monthly income.
- If you are earning any additional income through an employer or as a self-employed person, we will deduct 70% of these earnings from your IOW benefit. If you are receiving an additional benefit or pension, this will be deducted entirely from your IOW benefit.
Please note: The IOW benefit is paid in the following month after it was due. For example, you will receive your benefit for February at the start of March.
How long will you receive an IOW benefit for?
Your IOW benefit will start once your unemployment or WGA benefit ends. You will continue to receive this benefit up until you reach the state pension age.
Please note: If you decide to take early retirement, this could affect your IOW benefit and your pension. Contact us and your pension provider to find out more about how this would affect you.