In this guide
This guide explains how Dutch unemployment benefit works: who qualifies, how the amount is calculated, how long it lasts and how to apply. The source for the WW rules is UWV, the agency that pays WW.
Direct answer: The Dutch unemployment benefit is called WW (WW-uitkering) and UWV pays it.
- How much: the first 2 months 75% of your WW monthly wage (WW-maandloon), after that 70%. The WW monthly wage is your daily wage multiplied by 21.75. The maximum daily wage is EUR 309.91, so the highest possible WW is about EUR 5,055 gross per month for two months and about EUR 4,718 after that.
- How long: at least 3 months and at most 2 years, depending on your work history.
- Who qualifies: you have unemployment coverage through your job, you worked at least 26 of the last 36 weeks, you worked at least 10 hours per week on average and lost at least 5 working hours per week, you are available for work and you are not to blame for becoming unemployed.
- How to apply: through Mijn UWV with DigiD, from 1 week before your first day of unemployment and no later than 1 week after it. UWV decides within 4 weeks.
What is WW?
WW stands for Werkloosheidswet, the Dutch unemployment insurance act. A WW benefit (werkloosheidsuitkering) is a temporary income for people who become unemployed (UWV). UWV pays it.
Who qualifies for WW?
To qualify you must meet all of the following conditions (UWV):
- You have unemployment coverage through your job, which is usually the case if you have an employer.
- You worked at least 26 of the last 36 weeks before you became unemployed (the weeks requirement, wekeneis). It does not have to be for the same employer.
- You worked at least 10 hours per week on average and your working hours were reduced by at least 5 hours per week, which led to a loss of income.
- You are available for work.
In some cases you can qualify even if you do not meet every condition. UWV lists, for example, people who were ill, on paid maternity leave or on unpaid leave in the 36 weeks before they became unemployed, people who worked before becoming self-employed, and people who worked fewer than 10 hours per week on average and lost at least half of their hours. UWV can also look further back than 36 weeks in some situations, for example if you were ill or on maternity leave.
You must also not be to blame for becoming unemployed. After a dismissal you usually qualify (UWV, WW na ontslag). You may get no WW if you were dismissed for personal reasons, for example because you did something that was clearly not allowed, because UWV then calls you “verwijtbaar werkloos”. After a dismissal on the spot (ontslag op staande voet) UWV investigates whether you are to blame.
The UWV pages describe WW for employees. Whether your own situation qualifies, for example as a self-employed person or a director-shareholder, is a question for UWV.
How much is the WW benefit?
UWV calculates your WW as follows:
- SV wage: UWV uses the SV wage (wage for social insurance) that you earned in the year before you became unemployed.
- Daily wage (dagloon): UWV divides your SV wage by the total number of working days of the months in which you received wages.
- WW monthly wage: your daily wage multiplied by 21.75, the average number of working days per month.
- Benefit: for the first 2 months your gross WW is 75% of your WW monthly wage and after that 70%. UWV settles income you earn with your benefit.
| Period | Gross WW |
|---|---|
| First 2 months | 75% of the WW monthly wage |
| From month 3 | 70% of the WW monthly wage |
The maximum daily wage
There is a maximum WW, calculated with the statutory maximum daily wage of EUR 309.91. If your daily wage is higher, UWV calculates your WW with the maximum. UWV cannot estimate the net amount, because it depends on how much wage tax is withheld, which differs per situation.
Calculation: 309.91 x 21.75 = about EUR 6,740 per month. 75% of that is about EUR 5,055, and 70% about EUR 4,718.
Examples
The examples assume that your monthly SV wage equals the amount shown. Your real calculation depends on your payslips, so use UWV’s calculator on uwv.nl.
| Monthly SV wage | Maximum applies? | WW first 2 months | WW from month 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR 3,000 | No | about EUR 2,250 | about EUR 2,100 |
| EUR 5,000 | No | about EUR 3,750 | about EUR 3,500 |
| EUR 7,000 | Yes (capped at about EUR 6,740) | about EUR 5,055 | about EUR 4,718 |
Gross amounts, our calculation from the UWV rules above.
Working while you receive WW
Working during WW usually pays off, and the benefit can top up your income if you work for a lower wage than your WW monthly wage (UWV). UWV settles part of the SV wage you earn with your benefit. If you earn more than 87.5% of your WW monthly wage for 2 months in a row, UWV stops your benefit. Report your income to UWV every month.
How long does WW last?
A WW benefit lasts at least 3 months and at most 2 years, depending on your work history (UWV).
- Weeks requirement: you worked at least 26 of the last 36 weeks. This gives you 3 months of WW.
- Years requirement: you worked at least 4 of the last 5 years before you became unemployed. Then your WW lasts longer.
- Work history: for the first 10 full calendar years you get 1 month of WW per year. Further years up to and including 2015 add 1 month each, and years from 2016 add 0.5 month each.
- The year in which your WW starts does not count towards your work history.
UWV has a calculator on its website that estimates how many months you get.
How to apply for WW
You apply for WW through Mijn UWV, and you should always complete the application, even if you expect to find work soon. You can apply from 1 week before your first day of unemployment and no later than 1 week after it. Your first day of unemployment is the first day on which you would have worked if you still had your job.
Have the following ready (UWV): your DigiD, your latest payslip, your latest employment contract, your bank account number and the date on which you become unemployed. Filling in the application takes about 30 minutes. UWV sometimes needs additional information, for example payslips or a termination agreement, so collect information from your employer before you leave your job.
Apply on time. If you are already unemployed for more than a week when you apply, you probably receive a lower WW or none for a while.
After you apply, you see the status of your application in Mijn UWV, where the step-by-step plan shows what to expect and what you still have to do. UWV decides within 4 weeks after your first day of unemployment, or within 4 weeks after your application if you applied after your first day of unemployment. The decision says whether you get WW and for how long.
WW starts after your notice period. If no notice period or a too short one was agreed, you do not get WW for the first period, because UWV then assumes the notice period that you legally should have had. If you are dismissed during your probation period, WW starts immediately, because no notice period applies, and you need a letter from your employer saying that you did nothing wrong.
Dismissal and WW
You usually qualify for WW if you and your employer decide together to end your employment, provided you record it in a termination agreement (vaststellingsovereenkomst, vso). The agreement must say that the employer proposed the dismissal and that you did nothing wrong (UWV). If you are ill, get legal advice before you agree to a dismissal, because after a dismissal during illness you usually have no right to a benefit.
Transition payment (transitievergoeding)
If your employer ends your contract, you usually have the right to a transition payment from your first day of employment (Rijksoverheid). The calculation is 1/3 of your gross monthly salary per full year of service. In 2026 the maximum is EUR 102,000 gross, or one gross annual salary if your annual salary is higher.
Example: 3 full years at a gross monthly salary of EUR 4,000 gives 3 x (1/3 x EUR 4,000) = EUR 4,000. The transition payment is calculated per full year, with a formula for the remaining part of a year.
WW and your residence permit
If you hold a highly skilled migrant permit, your permit is linked to your employer. If you are not to blame for losing your job, you get a search period of 3 months to find a new recognised sponsor. With a residence permit of 2 years or more, you may be eligible for a search period of up to 6 months. The search period starts on the day the employment contract was dissolved, and it cannot be longer than the validity of your residence permit (IND). Contact the IND promptly after you lose your job to check your own position. Other permits have their own rules, so ask the IND or an immigration lawyer.
EU/EEA citizens do not need a residence permit. If you are unsure how receiving WW interacts with your right of residence, ask the IND or your municipality.
What happens after WW
UWV explains what you can do after your WW ends on its page “Nadat WW stopt”. If you are looking at other support, ask your municipality whether you may qualify for social assistance (bijstand).
Health insurance and allowances
Dutch basic health insurance stays compulsory as long as you live here. A lower income can change whether you qualify for zorgtoeslag, so check the conditions with the Belastingdienst. See zorgtoeslag and huurtoeslag for expats.
Compare Dutch health insurance options with our Health Insurance Wizard →
Related guides
- Dutch employment contracts, contract types and probation periods explained
- Changing jobs and careers in the Netherlands
- Sick leave and dismissal rights: Dutch employment law basics
- Freelancer and ZZP guide for the Netherlands
- Dutch pay slip (loonstrook) explained
- Remote work and working from home in the Netherlands
- Dutch work culture guide for expats
Summary
WW is a temporary income for employees who become unemployed through no fault of their own. Apply through Mijn UWV within the 1 week before to 1 week after window, check your own situation with UWV, and if you hold a work-based residence permit, contact the IND without delay.
External source: IND: residence permits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I eligible for unemployment benefits (WW) in the Netherlands as an expat?
WW is for people with unemployment coverage through their job, which is usually the case if you have an employer. You must meet all UWV conditions, for example the weeks requirement, a loss of working hours and availability for work. Dismissal is not enough on its own, because you also must not be to blame for becoming unemployed (UWV). If you need a residence permit, ask the IND what losing your job means for your permit.
How many weeks do I need to have worked to qualify for WW?
In the last 36 weeks before you became unemployed you must have worked at least 26 weeks. It does not have to be for the same employer (UWV). If you meet the weeks requirement you get WW for at least 3 months. For a longer period you must also meet the years requirement, which means working at least 4 of the last 5 years.
How much is the WW benefit in the Netherlands?
UWV bases WW on the SV wage you earned in the year before you became unemployed. It divides that by the number of working days to get your daily wage, and multiplies the daily wage by 21.75 to get your WW monthly wage. For the first 2 months your gross WW is 75% of that, then 70%. The maximum daily wage is EUR 309.91, so the maximum WW monthly wage is about EUR 6,740, which gives at most about EUR 5,055 gross per month for two months and about EUR 4,718 after that (our calculation from UWV's figures). UWV cannot estimate the net amount, because it depends on the wage tax withheld.
How long can I receive WW benefits in the Netherlands?
A WW benefit lasts at least 3 months and at most 2 years, depending on your work history (UWV). You get 3 months if you meet the weeks requirement. With the years requirement you get 1 month per year for the first 10 full calendar years of work history, then 1 month for each year up to and including 2015 and 0.5 month for each year from 2016. The year in which your WW starts does not count towards your work history.
How do I apply for WW in the Netherlands?
You apply through Mijn UWV with your DigiD. You can apply from 1 week before your first day of unemployment and no later than 1 week after it. Have your latest payslip, your latest employment contract, your bank account number and the date you become unemployed ready. Filling in the application takes about 30 minutes. UWV decides within 4 weeks after your first day of unemployment, or within 4 weeks after your application if you applied later. If you are already unemployed for more than a week when you apply, you probably receive a lower WW or none for a while (UWV).
Can I work while I receive WW?
Yes. UWV settles part of the SV wage you earn with your benefit, and the benefit can top up your income if you work for a lower wage than your WW monthly wage. If you earn more than 87.5% of your WW monthly wage for 2 months in a row, UWV stops your benefit. Keep reporting your income until the benefit has definitely stopped (UWV).
Does receiving WW affect my residence permit?
WW and your residence permit are separate matters. If you hold a highly skilled migrant permit and are not to blame for losing your job, you get a search period of 3 months to find a new recognised sponsor. With a residence permit of 2 years or more, you may be eligible for a search period of up to 6 months. The search period cannot be longer than the validity of your permit (IND). Contact the IND promptly if you lose your job on a work-based permit.