WW benefit after dismissal: what are you entitled to?

WW benefit (also known as unemployment benefit) is a temporary income in case of full or partial unemployment. The benefit is provided by the UWV and offers financial support while finding new work.

To qualify for a WW benefit, you must meet the following conditions:

• Condition number of weeks worked: You must have worked for at least 26 weeks in the 36 weeks preceding your unemployment. This is also known as the weeks requirement from the UWV.
• Available for work: You must be immediately available to work and must not have any commitments that hinder this, such as a nice trip to Bali.
• Duty to apply: During the period in which you receive unemployment benefit, you are required to actively apply for a job and be able to prove it
• Dismissal was own fault: Your unemployment should not be the result of, for example, a summary dismissal or misconduct in the workplace.
• Registering as a jobseeker with the UWV: It is formally important that you are registered with the UWV as a jobseeker. Note that you can arrange this even before you become unemployed.
• Income test: If your income is above a certain limit, you are not eligible for WW benefit. So if you have your own business alongside it from which a full income (at least not above the maximum limit of the WW) is derived, then unfortunately you are not eligible for WW benefit.

Note: the most current requirements you can always find on the UWV website.

The maximum unemployment benefit per month depends on your last earned salary and employment history. The guideline is that you get around 75 per cent of your last-earned salary in the first two months and 70 per cent from the third month onwards.

Note that the amount is always linked to the statutory maximum. This is a maximum set by the UWV on an annual case-by-case basis.

Do you meet all the eligibility requirements for WW benefits? Then the UWV will calculate your benefit and inform you of the exact amount. So you know exactly where you stand.

If you resigns himself, this usually affects your entitlement to unemployment benefit. This is because the UWV may decide that you are culpably unemployed, which will void your entitlement to benefits.

This happens, for example, if there was no urgent reason at all for your dismissal. 

Do you want to be self-employed during your WW period? Then you certainly can, but under certain conditions. The UWV offers opportunities to start your own business while retaining benefits. The UWV supports you in the following way:

• Online training: Before you start self-employment, you should take the online training course ‘Self-employment on unemployment benefit’ follow. Here you will learn what is possible and what rules apply. Upon completion, you will receive a certificate that you attended the training. It is also good to take this training if you had already started self-employment.
• Employment adviser: You discuss your plans with a UWV Work Adviser. This advisor will help you choose the right scheme and assess whether your plans are feasible.
• Start-up scheme: With this regulation you can do business for 26 weeks without the obligation to apply for a job. Note: because during this period, your benefit will be cut by 29%. You can spend all your time building up the company. You do not have to declare income from your business during this period.
• With settlement of hours: you can even without using the start-up scheme start. You will then not be cut from your benefit - but the obligation to apply for jobs remains in this case. The UWV deducts the number of hours you spend on your business from your benefit. This is done on the basis of a fictitious income.

In short, self-employment is certainly possible, but requires good preparation. Make sure you get in touch with the UWV and discuss your plans with them.