WW Unemployment Benefit Netherlands: Who Qualifies, How Much and How to Apply

Prices, fees and rules in this article were checked on 28 October 2026. They can change, so check the linked pages before you decide.

The WW-uitkering (werkloosheidsuitkering) is the Dutch unemployment benefit, paid by UWV, the Employee Insurance Agency. It is a temporary income for employees who lose work. According to UWV, you generally qualify if you were insured as an employee, worked at least 26 of the 36 weeks before becoming unemployed, and lose at least 5 working hours a week. The benefit lasts between 3 months and 2 years depending on your work history, and pays 75% of your WW monthly wage for the first two months and 70% after that. You apply via Mijn UWV, at the latest one week after your first day of unemployment. This guide explains the conditions, amounts, deadlines and obligations.

1. WW unemployment benefit at a glance

Source: UWV pages on WW entitlement, applying, the job search requirement and receiving WW, checked 28 October 2026.

2. Who qualifies for WW

UWV lists four conditions that you must all meet:

• Insured against unemployment. This is usually the case if you are or were employed by an employer.
• Weeks requirement (wekeneis). You worked at least 26 weeks in the last 36 weeks before becoming unemployed. This can be with more than one employer.
• Hours and income lost. You worked on average at least 10 hours a week and lose 5 or more hours of work a week, together with the pay for those hours.
• Available for work. You are immediately available for paid work.

UWV says you may also qualify if, in the 36 weeks before unemployment, you were ill, on pregnancy and maternity leave or on unpaid leave; in some cases if you worked as self-employed after being employed; if you worked under 10 hours a week and lose at least half of those hours and the pay for them; or if your employer dismissed you and you signed a settlement agreement (vaststellingsovereenkomst).

UWV also names situations in which you probably do not get WW, for example if you became unemployed through your own fault, or if you resigned from a permanent contract for a temporary contract of less than 26 weeks. Our guide to Dutch employment contracts, probation and notice periods covers the contract side, and our guide to being dismissed and settlement agreements covers the dismissal process.

3. How long WW lasts

According to UWV, the duration depends on your employment history and ranges from 3 months to 2 years:

• At least 26 of the last 36 weeks worked: WW for at least 3 months. The number of hours you worked per week does not affect this right.
• At least 4 of the last 5 years worked: more than 3 months. UWV adds 1 month for every year worked, up to 10 years.
• Beyond 10 years: for each year worked over 10 years until 2015, 1 month is added; for each year after 2016, 0.5 months.

In some situations UWV looks further back than 36 weeks, for example if you were ill, on maternity or parental leave, on unpaid leave or self-employed.

4. How much you receive

UWV states that for the first 2 months you generally receive 75% of your WW monthly wage (WW-maandloon), and 70% after that. The WW monthly wage is based on your average daily wage (dagloon) over the last year. If you earn income while on WW, UWV adjusts the benefit.

You report your earnings to UWV every month, also in months without income, and receive the benefit within 14 days. Because there can be a few weeks before your first report, you can ask UWV for a one-off advance (voorschot), which is always lower than the benefit you are entitled to. For the best estimate of your own amount, UWV refers you to Mijn UWV.

If you fall pregnant or become ill while on WW, you receive a pregnancy and maternity benefit or a sickness benefit (Ziektewet) instead. UWV says you may still be entitled to the remaining WW afterwards, or to a new WW benefit.

5. How and when to apply

1. Timing. The earliest you can apply is 1 week before your first day of unemployment. Apply no later than 1 week after that day.
2. Log in. Use Mijn UWV with your DigiD or a valid European electronic ID, and complete the form “aanvragen WW-uitkering”.
3. Have ready: your most recent payslip (loonstrook), your most recent employment contract (arbeidscontract), your bank account number and the date you become unemployed.
4. Decision. UWV decides within 4 weeks of your first day of unemployment. The letter states whether you qualify and for how long.

If you do not have DigiD yet, our moving to the Netherlands checklist explains how to get one.

6. Your obligations while on WW

UWV lists the obligations that start as soon as you apply. You must, among other things:

• meet the job search requirement (sollicitatieplicht);
• complete the tasks in your Werkmap or Mijn UWV;
• accept suitable work and do your best to stay in work;
• report your monthly earnings, also when you earned nothing;
• attend all appointments with UWV;
• report changes in your circumstances within 1 week;
• have a valid ID and keep benefit documents for at least 2 years.

Job search requirement. As a general rule, you complete 4 job search activities in every 4-week period, as agreed with your UWV adviser. Activities that count include applying for a job, attending an interview, posting your CV on a job site, registering with an employment agency, phoning or visiting employers, doing a test for a job, contacting your network and attending a job-search workshop or UWV webinar. Only browsing vacancies does not count. Keep proof of your activities for up to 2 years.

Suitable work. In the first 6 months, suitable work matches your skills, education, experience and salary expectations, with a travel time of up to 2 hours a day. After 6 months, you are expected to accept any work you can get, and the travel time increases to 3 hours a day. If you turn down suitable work, UWV can reduce or stop your benefit.

UWV lists exemptions from the job search requirement, for example if you will reach the state pension (AOW) age within 1 year, during your entitled holiday, during an approved course or trial placement, when starting your own business with UWV’s permission, or during an unexpected personal crisis or essential care for someone close to you.

7. Working, studying, holidays and going abroad

• Working. If you earn less than your WW monthly wage, the benefit supplements your income. If you earn more than 87.5% of your WW monthly wage for 2 months in a row, UWV stops the benefit.
• Holidays. You build up holiday pay (vakantiegeld) and holiday time. You can take up to 20 days of holiday per calendar year, or 65 days if you reach AOW age within 1 year. Report your holiday at least 1 day in advance with the change-of-circumstances form.
• Studying. Tell your UWV adviser via the Werkmap about the course, provider and duration. If the course improves your chances of work, your adviser can decide that the job search requirement does not apply while you study.
• Going abroad. If you meet the conditions, you can look for work in another EU or EEA country or Switzerland and keep WW for up to 3 months. You need a PD U2 form to register with the benefit agency in that country.

If you are leaving the country for good, see our leaving the Netherlands checklist.

8. FAQ

Can expats get WW unemployment benefit in the Netherlands?

UWV’s conditions are about being insured against unemployment as an employee, the weeks requirement, lost hours and availability for work. The UWV pages checked for this guide do not list nationality as a condition. If you meet the conditions, you can apply.

How long do I need to have worked to get WW?

At least 26 weeks in the 36 weeks before becoming unemployed, according to UWV.

How much is WW?

75% of your WW monthly wage for the first 2 months, then 70%. The WW monthly wage is based on your average daily wage over the last year.

When must I apply for WW?

No later than 1 week after your first day of unemployment. You can apply from 1 week before.

Do I get WW if I resign myself?

UWV says you probably do not get WW if you became unemployed through your own fault. Check your situation with UWV before you resign.

Can I keep WW if I move abroad?

You can look for work in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland and keep WW for up to 3 months with a PD U2 form, if you meet the conditions.

🇳🇱 Dutch Corner

Sources

• UWV: Wanneer heeft u recht op WW? (checked 28 October 2026)
• UWV: About the unemployment benefit (duration, amount, payments; checked 28 October 2026)
• UWV: Applying for an unemployment benefit (checked 28 October 2026)
• UWV: The job search requirement (checked 28 October 2026)
• UWV: Receiving an unemployment benefit (checked 28 October 2026)