To qualify for an unemployment benefit, you will need to meet all of the following criteria:

• You have unemployment coverage through your job, which is usually the case if you have an employer.
• You worked at least 26 weeks out of the last 36 weeks (‘wekeneis’) before you became unemployed, not necessarily for the same employer.
• You have worked at least 10 hours per week on average and your working hours have been reduced by at least 5 hours per week, leading to a loss in income.
• You are available for work.

You might also qualify for an unemployment benefit if one of the following criteria applies:

• You were ill, on paid maternity leave or you took unpaid leave during the 36 weeks before you became unemployed.
• You were employed before becoming self-employed.
• You have worked less than 10 hours per week on average and your working hours have been reduced by at least half, leading to a loss in income.

The length of time you will receive an unemployment benefit for depends on your employment history. This benefit can last anywhere from 3 months to 2 years, depending on how long you were employed for.

If you worked for at least 26 weeks before becoming unemployed

If you worked for at least 26 weeks in the last 36 weeks before you became unemployed, you are entitled to an unemployment benefit lasting at least 3 months. The number of hours you worked per week does not affect this right.

In some instances, we will look at a period that goes further back than 36 weeks. These include the following situations:

• You were ill.
• You were on maternity or parental leave.
• You took unpaid leave.
• You were self-employed.

If you worked for at least 4 out of the last 5 years

If you worked for at least 4 full years out of the last 5 years before you became unemployed, you will receive an unemployment benefit for more than 3 months. We will add 1 additional month to your unemployment benefit for every year you have worked, up to a maximum of 10 years. After 10 years of employment, the following applies:

• For each year you worked over 10 years until 2015, we will add 1 month to your unemployment benefit.
• For each year you worked over 10 years after 2016, we will add 0.5 months to your unemployment benefit.

Logging into Mijn UWV will give you the most up-to-date information about your unemployment benefit. This is the best place to look if you would like to know roughly how much you will be entitled to. 

Generally, for the first 2 months of unemployment, you will receive 75% of what we call your ‘average monthly unemployment benefit income’ (‘WW-maandloon’). After 2 months, you will receive 70%. Your average monthly unemployment benefit income is calculated on the basis of your average daily income (‘dagloon’) over the last year. Keep in mind that we will adjust your unemployment benefit to reflect any income you earn.

At the end of each month, you will need to report your monthly earnings to us. We can then make any adjustments that are necessary. You will then receive your unemployment benefit within 14 days.

For your first unemployment benefit payment, you might find there are a few weeks between the date you become unemployed and the first time you can report your monthly earnings to us. If this happens, you can ask us to pay you a one-off advance payment (‘voorschot’). Keep in mind that the advance is always lower than the amount of unemployment benefit you are entitled to receive. If you would like to apply for a one-off advance payment, please contact us.

Sometimes, the benefit you are receiving from us might change. For example, if you become pregnant or ill while receiving an unemployment benefit, you will receive maternity pay (‘zwangerschaps- en bevallingsuitkering’) or a sickness benefit (‘ziektewet-uitkering’) instead of the unemployment benefit. If this happens, you could still be entitled to receive what remains of your unemployment benefit once the other benefit ends. Or, you might be entitled to receive a new unemployment benefit when your other benefit stops. We will inform you if either of these situations applies to you.