BBZ - Dutch unemployment benefit

If you live in the Netherlands, are employed in Belgium and you lose your job in Belgium through no fault of your own, you will get a Dutch unemployment benefit.

Applying for a Dutch unemployment benefit

You must apply to your local UWVWERKbedrijf for a Dutch unemployment benefit. You will need a letter of dismissal and form U1 (previously form E301). You can obtain this form from the National Employment Office (Rijksdienst voor Arbeidsvoorziening) in your employer's area. The UWV will see whether you can get the Dutch benefit.

The amount of the Dutch unemployment benefit (WW benefit)

The amount of your Dutch unemployment benefit depends on the daily wage you earned. The benefit will be a percentage of the daily wage up to a maximum of € 191.82. (This amount applies as from January 2012.)

• For the first 2 months, you will get 75% of the daily wage
• After 2 months, you will get 70% of the daily wage
• In May, you will receive holiday allowance on top of your benefit

Duration of the Dutch unemployment benefit

How long you get an unemployment benefit depends on the number of years you have worked. For each year of work after 1998, you get 1 month of benefit. The years between your 18th birthday and 1998 are also treated as years of work. The maximum duration of the benefit is 3 years and 2 months.