If you are unemployed, you have to deal with the UWV, the Implementation Institute for Employee Associations. In practice, you rarely have personal contact with the work coach, but contact is made via the UWV website, Werk.nl. All your messages, assignments, tasks, application data, etc. are recorded there and you also have to rely on Werk.nl in the event of notifications, such as illness or when getting a job. Not everyone is satisfied with the effectiveness and accessibility of this website, but you will have to make do with it.
The UWV and the Werk.nl website
Unemployed people with unemployment benefits or social assistance benefits have to deal with the UWV. When you register, you will be assigned a work coach whose task is to get you back to work. In addition, he or she must check whether you meet your obligations, such as completing and maintaining your personal data on the Werk.nl website, actively looking for work and performing various related tasks.
The work coach
In the past, this guidance was personal and you had regular consultations with your work coach, in conversations or by telephone. In addition, the website Werk.nl mainly existed as an additional source of vacancies and to submit your CV. In the period from 2005 to 2015, the budget for the executive body was reduced from 2.6 to 1.3 billion, which meant that more than 15,000 employees at the UWV had to disappear during this period. This results, among other things, in the almost complete disappearance of personal guidance, with Werk.nl taking over this task digitally.
The problem, however, is that this UWV website is not at all designed for this complicated task; It was once started to support the work of employees, but with the ongoing digitalization of services, much higher demands are placed on the website. Nevertheless, you will have to work with it and it is better that you know what to expect from it.
What are the different functions of Werk.nl:
Apply for benefits
A. Register as a job seeker
If you register as a job seeker, there may be several reasons:
1. Apply for unemployment benefits
If you know that you are going to be unemployed, you can already register, but this may not be later than 2 days after your last working day. You can apply for unemployment benefits one month before your last working day and you have one week after your last working day. To apply for unemployment benefits, you must log in with your DigiD.
Tip: If you do not have a DigiD, you will first have to apply for it via the website www.digid.nl .
If you have previously received unemployment benefits, started working and have now become unemployed again, special rules apply that are described on Werk.nl. The UWV also requires additional information if you have worked in education. You can then click through to the relevant page.
2. Apply for social assistance benefit (WWB/Ioaw).
If you are unemployed but no longer eligible for unemployment benefits, you may be eligible for social assistance benefits. You must also request this via the Werk.nl website. Do not wait until the last minute, but request this in advance. You also need a DigiD to log in to apply for social assistance benefits.
3. Help with finding another job
You do not have to be unemployed to use Werk.nl. Even if you have work but are looking for another job, you can register with the UWV CV bank and use the vacancy bank.
You must also take the following circumstances into account:
- The vacancy bank is a collection of all kinds of vacancies, which expire regularly and are largely taken over from other sites
- The search function is particularly poor, so you can make much better use of the more well-known job sites such as monsterboard.nl, nationalevacaturbank.nl and werken.com.
- Werk.nl is generally a flawed website that is often down. As a benefit recipient you have no choice, but as a free job seeker you do!
In addition to the CV bank and the vacancy bank, the UWV also provides all kinds of information, advice and support when applying for jobs on this subject, such as:
- Practical tips for writing a good application letter and an effective CV
- Advice for conducting a job interview
- Additional training or combined learning and working
- Dismissal procedures and employment law
- Job fairs and information days
B. Apply for benefits
Once you have registered (see point A) you will be asked whether you want to apply for unemployment benefits or social assistance benefits. If you want this, you will be taken to a digital form where you must fill in all your information. Make sure you have all your information ready so it can be done all at once.
Tip 1: Do not make any mistakes, as this can have a major impact on the length or amount of your benefit.
Tip 2: The information you enter remains registered for 60 days, so that you can continue where you left off later.
The workbook on the website
Once you have registered (with your DigiD, as mentioned above), you will receive a workbook. This workbook contains all data and messages that belong to you or relate to you. You can opt for a tour on the homepage of the workbook , which will introduce you to all the functionalities . The workbook has the following parts :
1. My CV
This is managed by you and you must complete and maintain it properly so that employers can find you properly. Your details are visible to employers, but you can choose to hide your name and address. If you have a job, you can set your CV to inactive, so that it is no longer searched for.
Tip: Under ,suitable functions,, set the maximum number of functions (3) so that the chance of being caught is greatest.
2. My vacancies
In this section you can search for vacancies by zip code within the UWV vacancy database. Please note that the search is based on the positions that you have listed on your CV as ,suitable positions,.
Tip: For comments about the vacancy bank, see the introduction to this article. All vacancies that you have looked at and responded to via Werk.nl are also listed here under the section ,vacancies with my CV,.
3. My tasks
This is a small but important part because it states what is expected of you. Often this is just how many applications you need to complete by a certain date. It will then indicate that you still have a certain number of days left to complete the task.
Tip 1: You must always comply with this, otherwise you run the risk of losing your benefits! Tip 2: It may be that your task, for example to do at least 4 job applications per month, is not listed under ,My tasks,. You cannot fill this in, but send this information to your work coach by e-mail. After all, you remain obliged to report this!
4. My application activities
All application activities that you have entered (see point 3. My tasks) are displayed here. This data will remain stored until you have been offered a job. If you then become unemployed again, you start again.
Tip: Make sure you keep a list of all your applications yourself, in case there are problems with Werk.nl.
5. My messages
Here you send and receive messages to and from your work coach. Use this function to send emails to your work coach, because then they will be listed in the file. Here you can not only see which messages you have sent, but also whether they have been read by your coach.
6. My agenda
You do not have to use this, but you can record your activities and appointments here. Your work coach does not have access to this section.
7. My documents
This is an important part. All documents relating to your file are included here; conversation notes, proof of registration, work plans, status overviews, etc.
8. My network
This is a pretty useless part; Your work coach is listed here and you can add the name and address details of contacts you have in connection with your application activities.
9. My rights and obligations
It is especially nice in the beginning to know exactly what is expected of you and what your rights are with regard to your relationship with the UWV. These are clearly described and you will probably consult them again later if a conflict arises in your relationship with the work coach or the UWV.
10. My proof of registration
Here you will find proof of registration. To be on the safe side, you can download this and save it yourself.
11. Report changes
If there is a change in your situation, you must report it here. There are the following options:
- I want to unsubscribe.
- I found a job.
- I have moved.
- I want to make another change.
12. Online training
The UWV has several online training courses aimed at increasing your employment opportunities. You can follow this voluntarily:
Training Applying (preparing for application, networking , CV & letter and job interview)
Training Get to know your qualities LinkedIn training (expand your network through LinkedIn)
When using Werk.nl you will encounter the necessary limitations and shortcomings. come across. Irritations can arise , especially in the area of searching for suitable vacancies and the fact that the website is not always easily accessible. Don’t let this fool you, but use the various functionalities that are useful to get the most benefit from it. After all, the ultimate goal is to get back to work!
Tip: Never complain to your work coach about your problems with Werk.nl. He or she is well aware of this but cannot do anything about it themselves!