Benefits for older and disabled unemployed persons

Are you an older unemployed worker and no longer entitled to unemployment benefits or WGA benefits? You may be eligible for IOAW benefits. These benefits supplement your income to the level of social assistance.

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Approach

We do not have a separate procedure for applying for IOAW benefits. We ask you Social assistance benefit the Social assistance benefit notification form. After your initial notification, we will discuss your situation by telephone. We will then assess whether you are eligible for IOAW benefits or benefits under the Participation Act.

Description

The IOAW applies to older unemployed workers. The difference with Social assistance benefit that with the IOAW, we do not take your assets into account. You can keep your savings, your own home, or your boat. However, we will deduct your and your partner's income from or related to work from your benefits. We do not deduct other types of income or income from cost sharers. 

The number of people in your household determines the amount of your benefit. If you live with more people, you can share the costs of living and your benefit will be lower. This does not apply to children under the age of 21 living at home, students, and commercial relations (tenants).

Requirements

You are entitled to IOAW if:

  • you were born before January 1, 1965, and
  • you became unemployed after the age of 50 and you received the full wage-related unemployment benefit and follow-up benefit; or
  • you became entitled to WGA benefits after the age of 50, but lost those benefits because you were found to be less than 35% incapacitated for work during the reassessment.  

The cost-sharing standard 

The cost-sharing standard only applies to single persons.
If the cost-sharing standard applies to you, we will reduce your benefit by 70% of the statutory minimum wage. Your benefit will then be 50% of the minimum wage.

The cost-sharing standard does not apply:

  • if you are cohabiting partners
  • for persons up to 27 years of age
  •  for students
  • cohabitants with a commercial relationship. This includes, for example, commercial room rental or board.

If you are single and do not share living expenses, you will receive 70% of the statutory minimum wage.  

Objections and appeals

Do you disagree with the municipality's decision? Then you can file an objection. By doing so, you can explain why you disagree. You must object within 6 weeks. The municipality will then make a new decision.

Do you disagree with the new decision? Then you can ask the court whether the municipality has made the right decision. This is called 'appealing'. You must do this within six weeks. You can only appeal if you have lodged an objection.

For more information, see: Submitting an objection.

More information

Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment

More information about the IOAW benefit

Guide to applying for IOAW benefits

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