One of the elements we pay attention to when looking for a job abroad is the social benefits available in the country. This is a chance to get extra money from the state, which is often quite a motivation to relocate. In the Netherlands, such support can apply directly to the employed person, as well as to the spouse and children. In this post we will try to briefly discuss the most popular benefits that foreigners in the country famous for its tulips and windmills can take advantage of.
Kinderbijslag - family allowance for a child
One of the most popular social benefits is the possibility of receiving Kinderbijslag, or child benefit in the Netherlands. It was created to support parents by providing partial coverage of costs related to raising and educating a child. It is granted for any child who has not yet reached the age of 18.
What conditions do you have to meet in order to apply for Dutch social for a child?
First of all, you must have a registered address and legal employment in the country. The amount of income does not matter in this case, it is enough that you regularly pay social security contributions taken from your salary.
There is also no requirement that the parent and child reside at the same address. It is therefore possible to receive the benefit if the child lives outside the Netherlands. In this case, however, you must confirm that the money goes to him and is not used for our personal purposes - copies of bank transfers will serve this purpose.
How much is social welfare in the Netherlands?
Depending on the age of your child, you are entitled to a different amount of benefit. Benefit amounts are paid quarterly and are as follows:
-child up to 5 years old - 268.76 euros,
-from 6 to 11 years - €327.56,
-from 12 to 17 years - 385.37 euros.
Kindgebonden Budget
By collecting Kinderbijslag, you have the chance to receive an additional benefit per child. Kindgebonden Budget is intended for parents with a low standard of living, whose total income does not exceed an annual amount of about €49,000. Ultimately, the Belastingdienst, or Dutch Tax Office, decides whether you qualify for the allowance.
Zorgtoeslag - health insurance subsidy
If your income in the Netherlands does not exceed €38,520 per year, you can count on an additional payment from the office in the form of a health insurance subsidy. If you apply to the Dutch tax office in due time then, depending on your income, you stand a chance of receiving a significantly higher tax refund - on average the amount is even EUR 780 higher.
You can apply for a health insurance subsidy in the Netherlands until August 31 following the year you worked. For example: if you worked the Netherlands in 2022, the last day to apply will be August 31, 2023.
If you have a personal DigiD code and your place of permanent residence is the Netherlands, you can apply for Zorgtoeslag using your profile on the government website.
WW-uitkering - unemployment benefit
Unemployment benefit is an allowance granted for a limited period of time to provide a temporary income in case of job loss. It is due to any person in the Netherlands who, through no fault of their own, has lost employment and has worked for at least 26 of the last 36 months. The duration of the benefit will depend on the years worked, and the amount will be calculated by the office based on the employee's last earnings. The first 3 months it will be 75% of the daily rate (the average of the last 12 months' earnings), in the following months it will be only 70% of that rate.
It is important to remember that while collecting WW-uitkering benefit, we are obliged to actively look for work and submit regular statements of our income to the labor office.
How to arrange welfare in the Netherlands in case of job loss?
You can apply for benefits using a personalized DigiD code on the UWV website, the institution that handles most social benefits in the Netherlands.
Bijstand - a social benefit for people in distress
If, after the expiration of the period for which you have been granted unemployment benefits and, despite your active search, you still have not managed to get a job and improve your financial situation, the office may grant you a Bijstandsuitkering social benefit.
The amount of such allowance is directly dependent on the Dutch minimum wage and is directed to those in need who have been in the Netherlands for more than 3 months. Each case is considered individually by the office of the municipality concerned and the IND (emigration office in the case of residents and non-residents).
Maternity benefit in the Netherlands
Maternity leave in the Netherlands is available to any woman who is working and receiving unemployment benefits. It lasts for a maximum of 16 weeks and must begin at the earliest 6 weeks (and at the latest 4 weeks) before giving birth. In order to receive the benefit, you must provide your employer with a certificate from a midwife about the pregnancy, and the employer is required to report the matter to the UWV no later than 2 weeks before the start of the leave.
For the father, it is also possible to get the benefit (vadersverlof) - it allows 2 days of paid leave after the birth and an additional 3 days off free of charge.
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