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BenefitsAmount of benefits The amount and duration depend on your age and degree of incapacity for work. If, when you start to receive benefit, you are aged 33 or over, you will initially receive benefit calculated on the basis of your most recent wage, for a limited period. This period ranges from six months if you are aged 33-37 to six years if you are aged 58 or over. You will receive a percentage of your most recent wage, which depends on the degree of incapacity and ranges from 14% of your daily wage if your incapacity is between 15 and 25%, to 70% of your daily wage if your incapacity is between 80 and 100%. The daily benefit cannot exceed a certain amount. In certain cases, the benefit may be increased from 70 to 100 %, particularly if you need continuous care and attention. If at the end of this initial period you are still unable to work, you will receive a lump-sum allowance for five years, until you reach the age of 65. The amount is based on the minimum wage and your degree of incapacity. As a general rule you will receive a supplement on top of the basic amount. This supplement is based on your most recent wage and your age at the start of your incapacity. In May, you will be paid a supplement of 8 % as a holiday allowance. The amount of benefits is linked to the general wage trend. Benefits may be reviewed if your degree of incapacity for work increases or decreases. Insurance against incapacity for work can also be used for special measures to rehabilitate you for work or to improve your living conditions. You can take advantage of these measures if you receive a cash benefit for your incapacity for work, if you are claiming sickness benefits or if you are threatened with incapacity for work. Professional associations decide whether these measures can be taken. Duration of benefits 1. Benefits for incapacity for work are discontinued: a) on the first day of the month during which you reach the age of 65; b) once your degree of incapacity for work falls below 15 %; c) on the first day of the month following the date of death. Professional associations assess whether, and to what extent, you are incapable of work under the law. For this purpose, you may be called for a medical examination. Anyone who has been receiving invalidity benefit for a year will be called for a further medical examination. 2. If you are receiving, in the Netherlands, a cash benefit for incapacity for work, and if you wish to return to your country of origin or to another Member State: You may continue to obtain the cash benefit for incapacity to work provided that you meet the necessary conditions. In order to avoid any problems, you are advised, before you leave, to notify your professional association and your Sickness Insurance Office in good time. 3. If you become disabled when you are no longer insured in the Netherlands: In this case, you may still be able to claim a Dutch benefit for incapacity for work. This will depend on the type of invalidity benefit paid to you by your country of residence. Your Dutch benefit will then generally be reduced. In principle, you must submit an application for invalidity benefit in your country of residence, notifying the institution to which you are submitting your application that you have also been insured in the Netherlands. This institution will then investigate and inform you of any entitlements you might still have in the Netherlands. |