Employees and civil servants in the Netherlands who become unemployed are insured
by the Unemployment Insurance Act (WW). In theory, if eligible, you will receive
75% of the wage most recently earned (a maximum of
€ 177,03 per
day) in the first two months, thereafter 70%.
To be eligible for the unemployment benefit, you must satisfy the following
criteria:
- be below the age of 65;
- lose at least five working hours per week;
- no longer be entitled to wages for these lost working hours;
- be available for work;
- not be on Sickness benefit, WAO benefit upon full occupational disability,
or IVA benefit;
- not be in receipt of WGA benefit (unless you had a job in addition to the
WGA benefit and lost that job);
- meet the requirement of '26 out of 36 weeks': you must have been employed
for at least 26 weeks in the 36 weeks before the first day of unemployment.
For occupational groups such as artists, musicians and film employees, a lower
requirement of weeks applies: 16 from 39 weeks.
The length of your entitlement to this benefit depends on your employment history.
Below is a table that gives you a rough indication of the length of your salary-related
benefit. The benefit will be payable for as many months as the number of years
in employment (with a maximum of 38 months)
Employment history |
Duration of salary-related benefit |
4 years |
6 months |
5-9 years |
9 months |
10-14 years |
1 year |
15-19 years |
1.5 years |
20-24 years |
2 years |
25-19 years |
2.5 years |
30-34 years |
3 years |
The employee that becomes unemployed after resigning
from his job cannot benefit from the allowance.
Sources:
- http://internationalezaken.szw.nl/
- http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/
- http://holland.angloinfo.com/