AOW pension - You look after someone, or someone looks after you

If you still live alone and you are going to start living with someone to take care of them or so that they can take care of you, you will continue to receive the same AOW pension.

You will continue to receive an AOW pension at the rate for a single person

If you start living with someone, you will normally receive a lower AOW pension. However, if you live with someone because one of you needs extensive care, the rate of your AOW pension will stay the same. By extensive care, we mean that someone is unable to run their own household without help from others.

What are the conditions?

• you are both 65 or over
• long-term extensive care is needed; the medical situation is expected to remain stable or worsen
• you both keep your own home and also bear the financial expenses
• you did not live together before the care situation arose
• you will not continue to live together if the same level of care is no longer needed  

If you do not meet these conditions, you will receive a lower AOW pension at the rate for a person who is married or lives with a partner.