This article discusses the consequences of earning extra with an unemployment benefit, a Wajong benefit or social assistance benefit. The income must be reported to the UWV or to the GSD. Is it worth working while receiving benefits? The consequences of earning extra with benefits. Will the benefit be lower if you work with a Wajong, WW, WIA or WWB benefit?
Earn extra with unemployment benefits
You must indicate the hours you work in your work sheet that you send to the UWV-WERKbedrijf each week. Up to and including four hours of work per week, your income will be fully deducted from your benefit. If you work five or more hours a week, you can keep part of your earnings. If you return to work (partially), the benefit will be revised. The UWV assesses whether you will still receive unemployment benefit. There may be an hourly deduction or an income deduction.
Hours deduction
If you have received unemployment benefits for less than one year and you work fewer hours than the number of hours for which you receive unemployment benefits, you will receive unemployment benefits for the hours that you are still unemployed.
Income deduction
- There is an income deduction if:
- You have received unemployment benefits for at least 52 consecutive weeks (maximum interruption period is four weeks in that year)
- You are completely unemployed in the week before you started work
- You as an employee return to work
With income deduction, the gross salary that you earn when you return to work is taken into account. If the gross salary is less than 125% of the gross unemployment benefit, 70% of the income will be deducted from the benefit. You will receive partial unemployment benefit and may keep 30% of your salary.
Earn extra with Wajong benefit
If you are going to do paid work with a Wajong benefit, you must report this to the UWV in a timely manner. This applies not only to salaried employment, but also to freelance work. A distinction is made between the Wajong before 2010 and after 2010. The Wajong has been amended on a number of points.
- Wajong for 2010: it is not always the case that work pays off. You can get help finding and keeping work.
- Wajong after 2010: Finding and keeping work is central. If you are able to work, you will draw up a participation plan together with the UWV labor expert. Work almost always pays off. The amount of the benefit is determined on the basis of the salary you earn by working.
If you want to earn extra with a Wajong benefit, this will probably have consequences for the amount of your benefit. Your disability percentage may also be reassessed.
Earn extra with social assistance benefit (WWB)
Every Dutch person must provide for his or her own livelihood as much as possible. That is the starting point of the Work and Social Assistance Act (WWB). Anyone who receives social assistance benefits is obliged to look for and accept suitable work or to follow a reintegration program.
Earning extra with social assistance benefits leads to a lower benefit. Sometimes part of the wage that the social assistance recipient earns by working is not counted. A quarter of the salary can be retained for six months. From January 1, 2011, the maximum amount of 189 net per month applies.
Consequences of additional income with benefits
In general, it can be said that earning extra with a benefit results in a lower benefit. Whether working pays off depends on the type of benefit you receive. But work always comes before benefits. That is why increasing emphasis is being placed on the work that people with benefits can do. Moreover, working and contact with colleagues gives satisfaction and fills the day.