If a child has lost both parents

If a child has lost both parents and become orphaned, they can qualify for an orphan’s benefit providing they meet the necessary conditions. It does not matter whether they were the biological child of the deceased parents or a stepchild.

What are the conditions for an orphan’s benefit?

A child can only receive an orphan’s benefit if the parent who died last was insured under the Anw survivor benefit scheme. (People who live or work in the Netherlands are usually insured.)

There are no extra conditions while the child is under 16. This changes when the child reaches the age of 16. Orphan’s benefit always stops when the child reaches the age of 21.

An orphan aged 16 or 17 can get an orphan’s benefit if:

  • they go to school everyday to study for a school-leaving qualification, or
  • they do not need a school-leaving qualification (exemption), or
  • they are still in full-time education after obtaining a school-leaving qualification

If the orphan is the person who looks after the household, the orphan can receive an orphan’s benefit if:

  • the orphan has already got a school-leaving qualification, or is not obliged to get a school-leaving qualification (exemption)
  • the orphan spends more than half their time running the household and the household contains another child who receives an orphan’s benefit, e.g. a brother or sister, and
  • the orphan who looks after the household is not married or living together with someone else 

An orphan can receive an orphan’s benefit if they are in full-time education.

If the orphan is the person who looks after the household, the orphan can receive an orphan’s benefit if:

  • the orphan has already got a school-leaving qualification, or is not obliged to get a school-leaving qualification (exemption) 
  • the orphan spends more than half their time running the household and the household contains another child who receives an orphan’s benefit, e.g. a brother or sister, and 
  • the orphan who looks after the household is not married or living together with someone else

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Version: 1 April 2024

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