Sometimes it may be necessary to collect a sickness pension if you are unable to start or continue working. Polish workers who take legal work in the Netherlands are entitled to all the rights associated with it, including the possibility of receiving a WIA-uitkering pension if necessary. Find out who is entitled to this benefit, how much it is and how to get it. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the regulations on sickness pension in the Netherlands.
Who can apply for a pension in the Netherlands?
You can apply for a disability pension in the Netherlands after two years of receiving sickness benefits, in case you are still unable to return to work. To apply for a disability pension (WIA-uitkering), you must have a certain degree of disability. It is determined by a doctor after appropriate examinations.
Any employee who has not yet reached the age of 65 can apply for a pension. The Employee Benefits Institute decides on the basis of the medical opinion whether to grant the benefit and in what amount. We will be entitled to the lowest sickness pension in the Netherlands already with a health impairment of 15%.
There are two types of benefits under the Dutch pension: WGA and IVA.
WGA( Werkhervatting Gedeelt Arbeidsgeschiktten) benefits
WGA benefits can be obtained if two conditions are met:
- you have been ill for 2 years or more, and you will be able to work more again in the future,
- you can earn a maximum of 65% of your previous salary from this work.
IVA (Inkomensvoorziening Volledig Arbeidsongeschiktten) benefit
The IVA benefit can be obtained if two conditions are met:
- you can earn 20% or less of your previous salary,
- there is certainty that this situation will continue in the future.
If the situation of a person with such a serious injury does not change, the IVA benefit will be granted until retirement age.
A decision on whether you will receive WIA benefits is issued within 8 weeks of submitting the appropriate letter. If your application is successful, you will be informed what WIA benefit you will receive, how much the benefit will be and when the first payment will be made.
How much is a sickness pension in the Netherlands?
Individuals who are granted a degree of disability between pd 35% and 80% are entitled to a pension in accordance with the WGA system. Its amount will depend on the category awarded to the applicant. In the Netherlands, there are 7 different degrees of disability. In the case of 35 percent impairment, the pension will be 28 percent of the minimum wage - if it is already 65 percent, the benefit will be 50.75 percent of the minimum wage.
The amount of the benefit is also affected by whether or not a person is working. If you work, your benefit will be lower, but your total income will always be higher. Working, if there is a possibility, will always be beneficial.
With a work disability of min. 80% with no or little chance of recovery, you are entitled to a pension under the IVA system of75% of your daily earnings.
Obligations of an annuitant in the Netherlands
Any person in the process of receiving a pension from the Netherlands has several obligations that must be absolutely fulfilled in order for the benefit to be paid. First and foremost, you must constantly inform the relevant authorities of any changes in your health. This must be done within 1 week of becoming aware of this information. If there is a possibility, one should also do everything possible to recover. The UWV holds regular meetings where examinations will be conducted and by the medical examiner consultations with a labor expert.
If possible, you also need to take an active part in the labor activation process and look for various ways to return to gainful employment.
Pension in the Netherlands and tax return
An annuity paid according to the provisions of the social security system of the Netherlands is subject to taxation both in this country and for any other country you currently reside in. Thus, all the regulations for wages on which contributions are collected apply to this income, so it must be included in your annual return.
If you receive a sickness pension, you must file a return with the tax office - for this purpose, use our app for tax settlement from the Netherlands. This is a simple and convenient way to make this complicated and time-consuming process easier for yourself. With our help you will arrange all the formalities completely online, without leaving home - welcome.
