What happens to your income during sick paying the Netherlands?
If you become ill, it can have an immediate impact on both your work and your financial situation. Fortunately, employees in the Netherlands are well protected. Your employer is legally required to continue paying your salary for up to two years. This is known as continued salary payment during illness.
Sick pay in the first year of illness:
- You receive at least 70% of your gross salary, up to the maximum daily wage threshold
- If this amount falls below the statutory minimum wage, your employer must supplement your salary to at least the minimum wage
Sick pay in the second year of illness:
- You continue to receive at least 70% of your gross salary, up to the maximum daily wage threshold
- If this amount is lower than the minimum wage, your employer is not required to supplement it
- In that case, you may be eligible to apply for an additional allowance through the UWV (the Dutch Employee Insurance Agency)
👉 In practice, many collective labor agreements (CLAs) or employment contracts offer more favorable terms, such as paying 80%, 90%, or even 100% of your salary, without applying the maximum daily wage threshold.
What counts as “salary” during sick pay?
Continued pay or sick pay is not limited to your base salary in the Netherlands. It generally covers the income you would have received if you had not been ill. This means it includes most components of your regular earnings, such as:
- Annual bonuses (e.g., a 13th month salary)
- Overtime pay
- Shift allowances
- Personal allowances
👉 It is important to review your employment contract or applicable collective labor agreement (CLA), as these often specify exactly what is included and whether more favorable arrangements apply.
When does the 104-week period of sick pay start?
The 104-week period of continued salary during illness begins on the day you report sick to your employer. This means you are generally guaranteed income for up to two years, regardless of the cause of your illness. For people with chronic conditions, this provides valuable time to:
- better understand their situation
- find balance
- plan for the future
👉 Important: your employer cannot refuse a sick report. Only an occupational health physician can assess your ability to work.
What happens to your job while you are ill?
During this period, you remain employed and retain your employment rights. Your employer is generally not allowed to terminate your contract because of your illness. You also have the right to return to your position if your health allows.
However, you are expected to cooperate in your recovery and reintegration process. This may include:
- attending medical assessments
- contributing to a return-to-work plan
- accepting suitable alternative work
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What if you have a temporary contract?
If you have a fixed-term contract, the situation is slightly different. Your employer is not required to extend your contract if it ends while you are ill. This does not mean you are being dismissed because of your illness, but rather that your contract expires as agreed. If you are still ill at that time, you will typically transition to a sickness benefit program provided by the government.
What happens after that?
From there, you may apply for long-term disability benefits if you are still unable to fully return to work after two years. In some cases, you can apply earlier (an early disability assessment), if:
- your condition is unlikely to improve
- your earning capacity has significantly decreased
How does the transition to disability benefits work?
After two years of sick pay, your Dutch employer’s obligation to pay your salary comes to an end. This can be a stressful moment, especially if you are not fully recovered. On behalf of the Dutch government, the UWV assesses your eligibility for disability benefits. The amount and structure of these benefits are defined by the Dutch Work and Income (Capacity for Work) Act (WIA). This assessment focuses on how much you are still able to work compared to your previous earning capacity.
Possible outcomes of a disability benefits assessment:
- Less than 35% unable to work → no disability benefits
- 35–80% unable to work → partial disability benefits
- 80–100% unable to work (with recovery potential) → temporary disability benefits
- 80–100% unable to work (permanently) → long-term disability benefits (about 75% of your previous salary)
What does partial disability support look like?
Disability support often includes multiple phases. You typically start with a wage-related benefit (Loongerelateerde uitkering), which lasts between a few months and up to two years, depending on your employment history. After that, your situation is reassessed. You may then receive:
Supplemental benefit (Loonaanvullingsuitkering)
- If you continue working to the extent possible
- If you earn at least 50% of your assessed earning capacity
- This provides a higher level of income
Follow-up benefit (Vervolguitkering)
- If you do not (or cannot) work sufficiently
- This is usually lower and based on minimum income levels
👉 Key takeaway: working within your capabilities often leads to a higher overall income.
What does a chronic illness mean for your long-term income?
A chronic or progressive condition can significantly affect your ability to work over time. As your symptoms increase, you may need to reduce your working hours or stop working altogether. It is important not to simply accept changes to your employment contract during sick pay, as this can negatively affect your future disability benefits.
This often happens gradually:
- Full-time work
- Part-time work
- Partial or full disability
Each stage has financial consequences.
Possible income situations:
- Partial disability benefits
- Part-time salary combined with benefits
- Full disability benefits (about 75% of previous taxable income)
Keep focusing on what is still possible
Even with a chronic illness, reintegration remains important. Unless you are fully and permanently disabled, you are expected to explore what work is still feasible. This may include:
- adjusted work with your current employer
- a different role better suited to your capacity
- a new job with another employer
💡 Important: your situation may change over time. Regularly reassessing your options is essential.
What rights do you have as an employee?
As an employee on sick leave, you are protected by Dutch law.
Your key rights include:
- Protection against dismissal due to illness
- Continued salary payments for up to two years
- Access to professional reintegration support
- The right to suitable adjusted work
- Protection of your medical privacy
You also have responsibilities:
- actively participate in your recovery
- cooperate with reintegration efforts
- follow agreed plans
- remain available during working hours
How we help you navigate illness and disability
We understand that dealing with long-term illness and sick pay in the Netherlands can feel overwhelming, especially if you are living with a chronic condition. Our team provides personalized, expert guidance throughout the entire process.
We support you with sick pay in the Netherlands:
- Sick leave guidance from day one
- Disability application and appeal processes
- Reintegration assessments
- Long-term financial planning
- One-on-one coaching
- We combine professional expertise with personal experience — so you never have to go through this alone.
👉 Contact us for a free consultation
During a free 30-minute online consultation, we explore how we can support you with work, income, and disability benefits when living with a chronic progressive condition.
