Applying for unemployment benefits if you have an asylum residence permit

You may be entitled to unemployment benefits (WW-uitkering) if you meet these conditions:

• You worked for 26 consecutive weeks in the 36 weeks before you became unemployed.

• You worked in salaried employment.

• You live in the Netherlands.

• You worked an average of 10 hours per week.

• You lose 5 hours or more of work per week.

• You did not become unemployed through your own fault.

• You can immediately start looking for other gainful employment.

Do you meet all the conditions for unemployment benefits? Then you will first receive 3 months of unemployment benefits. Have you worked for 4 years in the past 5 years? Then you may be entitled to a longer unemployment benefit.

1. You apply for unemployment benefits from the

   Uitvoeringsinstituut Werknemersverzekeringen (UWV)
   . This is the organisation that provides benefits in the Netherlands.

2. You can log in online to your UWV profile with your

   DigiD
   . There you can apply for the benefit.

3. Enter your email address and phone number in your UWV profile if you have not already done so.

You can apply for benefits starting 1 week before your first day of unemployment. You can do this until 1 week after your last day of work. If you do this later, and you are still entitled to the benefit, you will receive a lower amount at the beginning of the benefit.

Your contact at

Are you not yet entitled to unemployment benefits? Or has your unemployment benefit already ended and you do not have a new job yet? Then you can apply for welfare benefits at the municipality where you live.