Q+A Unemployment insurance

Transcription

1 Q+A Unemployment insurance When are you entitled to a WW benefit? If, as an employee, you become fully or partly unemployed, you may be entitled to a WW benefit, a benefit under the Unemployment Insurance Act (WW). A number of conditions apply. How to apply for a WW benefit? You can register as a jobseeker at and also apply online for a WW benefit. The Institute for Employee Benefit Schemes (UWV) will then contact you. What are the minimum and what are the maximum terms of WW benefit? You will be entitled to a WW benefit for a minimum term of 3 months and a maximum term of 38 months. WW weeks requirement If you meet the weeks requirement, you will be entitled to a benefit for three months. The weeks requirement means that you must have worked for at least 26 of the 36 weeks before you became unemployed. Weeks worked are ones in which you worked for at least one day, weeks in which you were on holiday and weeks in which you went on paid leave. Weeks not counted are weeks in which you performed work as a self-employed person and weeks included in the calculation of a previous benefit. Weeks requirement for musicians, film employees and artists The weeks requirement is less stringent for musicians, film employees, artists and employees who provide technical support to these professional groups. They must have worked for at least 16 of the 39 weeks before becoming unemployed. WW years requirement You will be entitled to a benefit for a longer period if you also meet the years requirement. This means that you must have worked a sufficient amount for at least four of the five years before becoming unemployed. You are considered to have worked a sufficient amount if you were paid wages for at least 52 days of a year. The year in which you became unemployed does not count in the calculation of the benefit. The period during which the benefit is paid out may be extended by a maximum of 35 months. The exact term of the benefit will depend on your overall employment history. The years in which you cared for children can also be partly included in the calculation. From 2007, a year in which you provided informal care can also be counted.

2 Overall employment history Your overall employment history is the sum of your fictitious and actual employment histories. You are entitled to a WW benefit of one month for every year worked. Fictitious employment history and the WW Your fictitious employment history comprises all calendar years from the one in which you turned 18 up to and including Actual employment history and the WW Years in which actual work was performed are counted from A year counts as one in which work was performed if you were paid wages for at least 52 days in that year. You must be able to show your actual employment history, for example by means of an annual statement for the tax authorities or wage slips. What counts as work in terms of the WW years requirement? A year counts towards the WW years requirement if you were paid wages for at least 52 days of that year. Years in which you cared for your children may also count towards the years requirement. From 2007, the same applies to years in which you provided informal care. Care for your children and the WW If you became unemployed on or after 1 January 2005, the years in which you cared for your child or children aged up to 5 count in full or in part towards the WW years requirement. In this connection, the following applies: - years before 2005 in which care was provided count in full; - if care was provided in 2005 and 2006, each year counts as 75 percent; - each year from 2007 in which care was provided counts as half. Informal care and the WW From 2007, the years in which you provided informal care each count as half. You are considered to be an informal carer if you are caring for a sick relative or acquaintance. There is usually a social relationship between you and the person you are caring for. The care is not being provided on a professional basis.

3 What is the amount of your WW benefit? The amount of your WW benefit generally depends on the wage you were receiving in the year before you became unemployed. The WW benefit that you receive will be equal to 75 percent of that wage for the first two months and equal to 70 percent of that wage in subsequent months. Maximum WW benefit The amount of the WW benefit is linked to a certain maximum, namely the maximum daily wage. As from 1 January 2011, a maximum daily wage of applies. The maximum benefit is 75 percent of the daily wage in the first two months and 70 percent of the daily wage in subsequent months. Income of a partner and the WW The amount of your WW benefit is not linked to the income of your partner or that of other family members. Personal assets and the WW Your personal assets do not affect the amount of your WW benefit. Guaranteed minimum income If your WW benefit is lower than the guaranteed minimum income applicable to you, you may be entitled to a supplement. This supplement does, however, depend on your other income and that of your partner. What are your obligations when receiving a WW benefit? If you are receiving a WW benefit, you are obliged to return to work as soon as possible. You must make agreements with your UWV WERKbedrijf office about looking for work. Obligation to seek work and the WW From the moment that you know you will become unemployed, you must look for alternative, suitable work. In other words, you have an obligation to seek work. If you are offered suitable work, you must accept it. Suitable work and the WW If you have only been unemployed for a short time, you may look for work that is related to your education and training and previous work experience. Any kind of work, irrespective of education and training requirements and wage level, is considered suitable under the WW for all individuals who are still unemployed after 12 months. If you have been unemployed for over a year, therefore, you must also look for work that is not directly related to your education and training and previous work experience. After half a year, for example, someone with a higher professional education (HBO) must also look for work that is appropriate for someone with a senior secondary vocational education (MBO), and ultimately all jobs must be considered suitable.

4 Gatekeeper test After three months of being unemployed, your UWV WERKbedrijf office will check whether you have tried hard enough to get a job. This check is referred to as the gatekeeper test. If you have failed to keep to the agreements made, UWV can reduce your benefit. You can, for that matter, also contact UWV if your UWV WERKbedrijf office is not supporting you enough. Temporary exemption from the obligation to seek work In exceptional cases, you may be exempted from the obligation to seek work. Your UWV WERKbedrijf office can grant such an exemption in the following cases: you have tried hard enough but have not succeeded in getting a job. You must do at least 20 hours of volunteer work a week as part of a reintegration programme; you are providing intensive informal care; an emergency has arisen in your family situation, for example someone has died or become seriously ill; you are starting your own company. Can you also get a WW benefit if you are already receiving an occupational disability benefit? WAO benefit and the WW If you are fully occupationally disabled and are receiving a benefit under the Disability Insurance Act (WAO), you are not entitled to a WW benefit. You may, however, be entitled to a WW benefit if you are declared partially fit for work following a reassessment, but have not yet found suitable work. In that case, you do not have to meet the WW years requirement. IVA benefit and the WW If you are receiving an IVA benefit, a benefit under the Income Provision Scheme for People Fully Occupationally Disabled (IVA), you are usually not entitled to a WW benefit. WGA benefit If you became partially occupationally disabled in or after 2006, you will receive a WGA benefit, a benefit under the Return to Work Scheme for the Partially Disabled (WGA), that will in principle supplement your wage, and you will not be entitled to a WW benefit. If you lose your wage, however, you will be able to apply for a WW benefit to make up for this loss. The usual conditions will apply. Can you start your own company if you are receiving a WW benefit? If you are receiving a WW benefit, you may try to start your own company for a period of six months. If you have plans in this regard, contact your UWV WERKbedrijf office to discuss the possibilities.

5 Adjustment of the WW benefit according to income earned If your company becomes economically active, you may accept and carry out assignments and will not be obliged to look for a job. The amount of the WW benefit to which you are entitled will be reduced by an amount equal to 70% of your earnings. Definitive settlement in this respect will take place after two years. Continuing with the company If you decide to continue with your company after an orientation period of six months, your WW benefit will be stopped. Resumed benefit if you stop with your company If your company proves unsuccessful and you decide to stop, you will be entitled to request the resumption of a WW benefit. The term during which you will receive a WW benefit will be determined by the WW entitlement built up and range from a minimum of 18 to a maximum of 38 months after the launch of the company. Do you have an obligation to seek work if you are receiving a WW benefit? If you are receiving a WW benefit, you are obliged to seek work. This means that you must look for suitable work. You may be exempted from this obligation in certain cases. Volunteer work and the obligation to seek work If you are doing volunteer work, you will be exempted from the obligation to look for paid work for a period of six months. This exemption will be granted if: doing volunteer work increases your chances of getting paid work; you do at least 20 hours of volunteer work a week; you have already been looking for regular work for a long time. UWV WERKbedrijf can extend this exemption by six months. After a year, UWV WERKbedrijf will review your situation on a monthly basis. Informal care and the obligation to seek work You may also be exempted from the obligation to seek work if you are providing informal care. UWV WERKbedrijf can subsequently extend this exemption by six months. After a year, UWV WERKbedrijf will review your situation on a monthly basis. Personal circumstances and the obligation to seek work You may be exempted from the obligation to seek work for a maximum of four weeks due to personal circumstances. How does UWV WERKbedrijf help you to find work? UWV WERKbedrijf can help you to find work. You can get help already before you become unemployed. To do so, you must be able to show that you will be losing your job within four months.

6 Together with your UWV WERKbedrijf work coach, you will make agreements about how you will look for work and the frequency with which you will apply for jobs. Your advisor can assist you in applying for jobs. Trial placement If your chances of finding work are small, you can work for a company on a trial basis. You can work at the company for a maximum of three months while keeping your benefit. Workshops UWV WERKbedrijf organises workshops about looking for work that focus on, among other things, writing job application letters. Schooling Additional schooling may be necessary to increase your chances of finding work. You can attend a training course or study programme while keeping your benefit. You require UWV s permission to do so and may attend a study programme for a maximum of one year. You must start applying for jobs again two months before the end of the study programme. The end of the WW benefit during a study programme You will no longer receive a WW benefit if its maximum term is reached during the study programme, even if you have not yet completed the programme. This will not apply if you are transferred in full or in part from the Disability Insurance Act (WAO) to the WW following a one-off reassessment. If in this case your WW benefit ends during your study programme, the term of the benefit will be extended and you will continue to receive it until the end of the programme. Reintegration programme If your chances of finding work are small, you can enter a reintegration programme. You will then be supervised by a reintegration company. If, however, you have your own reintegration plan that you believe will get you back to work sooner, you can choose to conclude an individual reintegration agreement (IRO). Can you look for work abroad and keep your WW benefit? You can look for work abroad for a maximum of three months while keeping your WW benefit. This option is limited, however, to countries of the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland. In addition, a number of conditions apply. More information on the matter is available from UWV. If you do not manage to find work and are back in the Netherlands within three months, your WW benefit will continue to be paid out in the Netherlands. If you are not back in the Netherlands within three months, the benefit will be stopped. It is not possible to look for work in other countries, such as Canada or Australia, while keeping your WW benefit. If you decide to look for work in such countries, your benefit will be stopped as soon as you leave the Netherlands.

7 Are you entitled to go on holiday with a WW benefit? If you are receiving a WW benefit, you are entitled to 20 days of holiday a year. You will continue to receive your benefit. If you have been unemployed for only part of a year, you will only be entitled to days of holiday for that part of the year. Weekends, national holidays and generally recognised Christian holidays that occur on week days are not deducted from the days of holiday to which you are entitled. Holidayfor older people If you are aged 57.5 or older and have been exempted from the obligation to seek work, you are entitled to 13 weeks of holiday. You will continue to receive your benefit. Reporting a holiday You must inform UWV accordingly as soon as you have holiday plans. What will happen to your WW benefit if you become ill? If you become ill, you must inform UWV accordingly on the first day of your illness. If you are ill for less than 13 weeks, you will continue to receive a WW benefit. After 13 weeks, you will receive a benefit under the Sickness Benefits Act (ZW). Illness and the obligation to seek work You must try to find work as soon as possible even if you are ill; you must apply for jobs or attend a study programme according to your capability. What will happen to your WW benefit if you die? If you die, your WW benefit will be stopped. Surviving members of your family will be entitled to apply to UWV for a death benefit. The death benefit is equal to a single, gross monthly WW benefit. Upon death, UWV will also calculate the accrued holiday pay and pay this amount out. It is possible that the net benefit will continue to be paid out for a time after death. In that case, the amount paid in excess will be deducted from the death benefit. How does the WW work in relation to your pension? Becoming unemployed has far-reaching consequences. The loss of a job also means the loss of income. In addition, your pension build-up may stop, which means that the pension benefit you later receive in addition to your benefit under the General Old Age Pensions Act (AOW) may be less than you had expected. Subject to certain conditions, the Supplementary Pension Insurance Foundation (FVP) makes a free contribution to limit the loss of pension rights in the event of unemployment. If you become unemployed and you are aged 40 or older, you may be able to make use of this scheme.

8 Employees who become entitled to a WW benefit on or after 1 January 2011, however, will no longer be eligible for an FVP contribution. FVP intends to preserve the right to an FVP contribution of employees currently entitled to a WW benefit and who become so entitled before 1 January 2011 to the greatest extent possible. FVP cannot, however, issue any guarantees to this group of employees. When does the benefit stop? The WW benefit stops in the following cases: you return to work. If you have found work for less hours than the number for which you were receiving a benefit, you will continue to receive a benefit that makes up for the difference in hours. If the difference is less than five hours or less than half if you were previously working for less than ten hours, you will no longer be considered unemployed and your benefit will be stopped; you no longer satisfy the conditions to be eligible for a WW benefit, for example because you are receiving a benefit for full occupational disability or residing abroad; the maximum term of the benefit has ended. If you are still unemployed at the end of this term, you may still be able to apply for a benefit under the Work and Social Assistance Act (WWB) or Income Provisions for Older and Partially Disabled Unemployed Persons Act (IOAW). Both benefits, however, are tested against the income of your partner if you have one. Your personal assets do not affect the amount of the IOAW benefit. The WWB benefit, on the other hand, is tested against the income of other family members and your personal assets; you turn 65. You will start receiving the AOW pension benefit from the month in which you turn 65. What has changed? UWV will offer people who have been receiving a WW benefit for more than a year jobs with lower skill requirements and wages that amount to less than the benefit. Unemployed persons are obliged to accept these job offers. The WW benefits of those who refuse to cooperate in effecting a return to paid work will be reduced. Upon the resumption of work, entitlement to a WW benefit will no longer be determined by the number of hours worked. Rather, the amount of the benefit will be adjusted according to the income earned from work. This means that an employee will not lose out financially for taking on lower paid work. The benefit will only be reduced by 70 percent of the wage earned. This means that resuming work will always be financially beneficial, irrespective of the amount of the new wage. The income supplement will continue to be paid out for the remaining term of the WW benefit. If income earned from resumed work exceeds 87.5 percent of the previous wage, no income supplement will be paid out (comparable to the current 5-hour rule).

9 Who will be affected? After a year of unemployment, all work will be considered suitable for people who became unemployed after 1 July More information If you cannot find an answer to your question on this website, you can ask the Postbus 51 Information Service by calling free number The service is available on working days from to hrs. If you are calling from abroad, the number is and the regular rate will apply. Your question will usually be answered immediately, though sometimes you will be referred to another government or non-government agency.