Applying for benefit under the older unemployed persons income scheme (IOW benefits)
Are your unemployment benefits coming to an end and do you not yet qualify for state pension (AOW)? If so, you may qualify for benefits under the older unemployed persons income scheme (IOW benefits). You apply for IOW benefits from UWV (the Employee Insurance Agency). You will need to meet a number of conditions.
Last updated on 6 March 2026
Conditions for receiving IOW benefits after unemployment benefits end
If you want to receive IOW benefits after your unemployment benefits end, you must meet a number of conditions:
- You were aged 60 years and 4 months or over when you became unemployed.
- You have received unemployment benefits for the maximum amount of time.
You can find all conditions for receiving IOW benefits after unemployment benefits on UWV’s website.
Conditions for receiving IOW benefits after WGA benefits end
If you want to receive IOW benefits after your wage-related WGA benefits end, you must meet a number of conditions:
- You were aged 60 years and 4 months or over when your WGA benefits started.
- You have received WGA benefits for the maximum amount of time.
You can find all conditions for receiving IOW benefits after wage-related WGA benefits on UWV’s website. If you already receive WGA benefits, UWV will automatically send you a form to apply for IOW benefits.
IOW benefits until you reach state pension age
If you qualify for IOW benefits and cannot find work, you will receive them until you reach state pension age.
Applying for IOW benefits
You can apply for IOW benefits at UWV.
Laws and regulations (in Dutch)
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