Social Security

The Dutch social security system is very comprehensive. Social insurance schemes provide a temporary income during, for instance, unemployment, old age, illness or incapacity for work.

There are three avenues of social security schemes:

• National Insurance administered by the social insurance bank (SVB), which includes old age pension (AOW) and child benefit (AKW);
• Employee Insurance administered by UWV, including unemployment benefit (WW), long-term disability (WIA) and sickness (ZW);
• Social Assistance administered by the UWV Employee Insurance Agency

With each benefit, there are specific conditions that must be met or applied. In addition, your residence rights should be checked to see that they are not affected if you intend to apply for benefits. Your official documents will need to be in good updated order. Consult the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment website for more information.

Unemployment benefit (WW uitkering)

If you become unemployed, you may be eligible for unemployment insurance payments. The unemployment benefit is administered by the UWV.  Read more about the benefit and how to apply here.

Welfare benefit (Bijstandsuitkering)

As an international resident, you might have a right to welfare benefit (bijstandsuitkering) if you don’t have enough money to live on. However, whether you are eligible or not depends on several factors. Please read the information on the IND site.

If you are a Non-EU citizen, check the back of your IND residence permit card. If your card states: “Een beroep op algemene middelen kan gevolgen hebben voor het verblijfsrecht”, then if you apply for welfare benefit, you may lose your right to reside in the Netherlands!

If you are an EU citizen, the IND site also has information on whether an application for public funds will affect your right of residence.

In addition, the EU has produced this document about the social security rights of EU citizens in the Netherlands.

Social benefits

You can also apply for different benefits when your income is lower through the Tax Administration. The most common benefits as an addition to the ones mentioned above are:

• Healthcare benefit
• Rent benefit
• Child benefits