It may happen that you become ill during the period that you are receiving unemployment benefits and end up on sick leave. This can happen to anyone, but it occurs above average among people over 55, for whom the chance of finding a job is generally quite small. Due to their age, these unemployed people are often more vulnerable than young people. Moreover, the hopelessness of their situation and its serious financial and social consequences often cause depression, burn-outs and related complaints. If you are really no longer able to work or apply for a job, you report sick and you may ultimately end up on sick leave. What can you expect and how will you deal with it, what are your rights and obligations, will you perhaps receive a WIA benefit or social assistance benefit later?
The WW-er and illness
As a unemployed person in the Netherlands, you belong to a steadily growing group of people, an increasing number of whom no longer have any prospects of finding work. In the recent past, these were mainly the over-55s, but in the current labor market, an unemployed person from the age of 40 appears to be among the more or less hopeless unemployed. With the tight labor market, an employer is quickly inclined to opt for a (often cheaper) younger employee, with all the consequences that entails.
Hopeless unemployment
With this growing number of often older unemployed people, the number of unemployed people who become ill while receiving unemployment benefits also increases; the risk of illness is simply greater among the elderly than among the young and, moreover, long-term and hopeless unemployment often causes serious stress and depression with all kinds of physical and mental complaints as a result of, among other things:
- Dealing with the feeling of being dismissed after a long and loyal service
- Acute financial problems due to the relatively low level of benefits
- The prospect of long-term financial problems if unemployment benefits end
- For people over 55, there is the problem of bridging the gap between unemployment benefit and state pension
- Processing disappointments due to repeated rejections in job applications
- Relationship problems due to the changing household situation
- The need to sell the house to reduce costs or free up money
The UWV and the rules for sick unemployment benefits
If you become ill as an unemployed person receiving unemployment benefits, the following rules apply:
- If you receive unemployment benefits and become ill, you are expected to immediately report sick to the UWV. This should preferably be done the same day (between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM) but no later than the next day
- You can do this by calling the UWV telephone number as stated in the correspondence. In general this is the number 0900-9294
- You will receive a letter from the UWV within 4 weeks stating whether you are eligible for the Sickness Benefits Act.
- When you are better again, you must report this in the same way
- From that moment on, you are registered as a sick person, with all the associated rights and obligations
Rights and obligations during your illness
Since January 1, 2013, the following approach has been in place: After you report sick, you will be contacted by an employee of the UWV, who will discuss what kind of work you have done, the nature of your illness and the options for returning you to work. to get. In addition , the following rights and obligations apply :
- Your obligation to apply remains unchanged
- You will have to continue to comply with additional agreements that the UWV Werkbedrijf has made with you
- You must strictly adhere to appointments with the UWV doctor
- If you are unable to do this, you must report this, preferably in writing to your work coach via the werk.nl website.
- Any limitations resulting from your illness may then be taken into account
- You will then also fall under the rules of the Sickness Benefits Act (see below).
Rules of the Sickness Benefits Act
The rules of the Sickness Benefits Act that are relevant to this situation include:
- When holidaying in the Netherlands, you – as usual – ask permission from the UWV and provide your holiday address
- Holidays abroad are only possible with permission from the UWV, and this is not given for all countries
- You are obliged to cooperate in any reintegration process.
- The Sickness Benefits Act lasts a maximum of 24 months
- Sickness Benefit is 70% of the daily wage
NB 1: If your unemployment benefit expires within the first 13 weeks but you are still ill, you will receive the Sickness Benefits Act until you get better. After that, you may be entitled to social assistance benefits. NB 2: If you get better during the Sickness Benefits Act , you will have to apply for unemployment benefits again. The first 3 months (13 weeks) of your illness will then be deducted from your new unemployment benefit entitlement.
From the start of your illness, you will be guided by a UWV employee who will assess your situation and will make every effort to help you get better again, so that you are considered able to apply for a job and go back to work.
After the Sickness Benefits Act
If you have not recovered after a year of being on the Sickness Benefits Act, you are eligible for the WIA. The WIA stands for the Work and Income according to Work Capacity Act and is intended for people who have been ill for 2 years and earn less than 65% of their previous salary. The premise of the WIA is that you work as much as you can and that the WIA supplements your income. The WIA has replaced the WAO.