AOW pension - Deductions from your AOW pension

If you live in the Netherlands, tax, national insurance contributions and Zvw health insurance contributions will be deducted from your AOW pension. If you live outside the Netherlands, these deductions may not be made, depending on your country of residence.

Tax and national insurance contributions (international)

Whether tax and national insurance contributions are deducted from your pension depends on your country of residence. If you would like to know what the situation is with regard to your AOW pension, feel free to contact your SVB office.

Zvw health insurance contribution for non-residents

You may be covered by the Dutch Health Insurance Act (Zvw) even if you do not live in the Netherlands. The College voor Zorgverzekeringen (Dutch Health Care Insurance Board, CVZ) will decide whether this applies to you. If you are insured under the Zvw, we have to deduct a Zvw health insurance contribution for non-residents from your AOW pension. This contribution consists of the following:

• a Zvw contribution which is related to the amount of your AOW pension.
• an AWBZ contribution for exceptional medical expenses, which is also related to the amount of your AOW pension.
• a flat-rate contribution for every co-insured member of the family aged 18 and over.

The contribution depends on your country of residence.

The Zvw health insurance contribution for non-residents varies between countries.The contribution rate depends on the average health care rates in your country. The lower the fees charged in your country, the lower the contribution deducted.

Applying for a health care allowance

You may qualify for a health care allowance to help cover the Zvw contributions you pay. The amount of the health care allowance depends on your family's total income. You can apply to the Dutch Tax Administration (Belastingdienst) for a health care allowance. For more information, you can call the International Tax Help Line: +31 55 5 385 385.