It is very annoying when you fall ill and you cannot go to work. In many countries, you have no income. Fortunately, the system in the Netherlands is very good when you become ill. You are entitled to up to two years of salary payment.

The amount of the salary payment depends on the type of contract you have.

Reporting sick

The moment you become ill, you have to call your manager immediately. Normally you have to report it before 9 in the morning. That day is then considered a sick day. If you do not do this in time, the day is considered a day off. If you fall ill during work, the next working day is the official sick day.

Working for a job agency

When you work for a job agency your sickness period is paid by the government. This department is called the UWV. You have to call twice when you call sick. You have to call the job agency before 9 am. You also have to call the company you work for. You also have to call your employer before 9 am. Often, the first two days of your illness are not paid. Example: You report sick to the job agency and employer on Tuesday morning at 8.30 am. If you are still sick on Thursday, you will only get paid from that Thursday on. The first two days are therefore often unpaid and for your own account.

You are the one who decides when you are better again. An employer or doctor cannot tell you that. When you are better, you call twice again. You call the employment agency before 9 am and your employer before 9 am. If you start your working day before 9 am, you do not have to call your employer, because you will see your employer face to face.

If you have a Job Agency A contract, you will receive 70% of your income from the UWV. This is possible for a maximum of 2 years. If you are still ill after two years, you will no longer receive sickness benefit. You may then be eligible at the UWV for a long-term sickness benefit. This is called WIA.

If you have a Job Agency B contract with an employment agency, you have more rights. You will only receive a Job Agency B contract if you have been working for the same agency for a longer period of time. In that case, usually only one waiting day or no waiting days apply. In the first year of illness, you will receive 90% of your income and in the second year of illness, you will receive 80% of your income. So it is a big advantage to have a Job Agency B contract.

If you are ill for a longer period of time, the UWV will summon you to visit the UWV doctor. You will receive a letter from the UWV for an appointment. You will usually receive a letter when you have been ill for about 2 months. The UWV doctor will discuss with you whether and when you can return to work. If you have been ill for a long time, you will receive several invitations from the UWV doctor during the maximum of two years.

Contract with employer

If you work directly for a company, your employer will continue to pay your salary for a maximum of 2 years. You will then be paid 100% of your income. You must report sick to your manager before 9 in the morning.

Do you have a permanent contract? Then your income will continue for a maximum of 2 years. The premiums and pension you pay also continue. Most employers have their own company doctor. In case of long-term illness you will be invited several times by the doctor to discuss your situation. Together you will look for a plan to recover and get back to work.

Do you have a temporary contract? For example, for one year? Then your income will continue until the end of the term of the contract. For example: Do you have a one-year contract and did you start working in January 2022. And you become ill in April 2022. Then your income will continue at most until December 2022. That is 9 months. Often an employer will not extend your contract in this situation. You can then apply to the UWV for sickness benefit for 1 year and 3 months. In that case, you will have received sickness benefit for a total of 2 years. If you are ill for longer than that, you can apply to the UWV for WIA benefit.