Benefit for older discontinued entrepreneurs

The income provision for elderly and partially disabled self-employed persons (IOAZ) is a benefit for elderly and partially disabled self-employed persons. If you have to quit your business due to a too low income. Apply for the IOAZ to the municipality before you stop your business.

Approach

Make your application no more than 1.5 years before you stop your business. You will receive the benefit from the date you stop.

This is how you apply for the IOAZ benefit:

  • Contact the municipality.
  • You will need:
    • your valid ID
    • proof of your living situation
    • bank statements from the past period
    • your accounts for the last 3 years
Description

An IOAZ benefit is for older self-employed people who have stopped running their business. If your income is too low after you quit, the benefit supplements your income.

The amount of your IOAZ benefit depends on:

  • your income
  • your partner's income
  • your equity
  • the pension you have accrued through an occupational pension

If you live with more people in the house, your benefit will be lower. This is because you can then share living expenses. This does not apply to children under 27 living at home, students and tenants.

Requirements

The Requirements for the IOAZ benefit are:

  • You are 55 or older, but have not yet reached the state pension age.
  • You stop your business no later than 1.5 years after applying for IOAZ benefits.
  • Your business met the Inland Revenue's hour criterion each year .
  • Your company's profit was less than €28,957 (2024) / €30,968 (2025) gross per year over the last 3 years.
  • You expect your income to be lower than €34,207 (2024) / €34,890 (2025) gross per year in the future.
  • You worked:
    • At least 10 years of self-employment in the Netherlands, or
    • the last 3 years self-employed and before that 7 years employed in the Netherlands.

(Amounts July 2024 / January 2025)

Objection and appeal

Do you disagree with the decision of the municipality? Then you can file an objection. In doing so, you state why you disagree with the decision. An objection must be filed within 6 weeks.

Have you objected to the decision of the municipality? Then the municipality will make a new decision. Do you disagree with that decision? Then you can ask the court whether the municipality has made a good decision. This is called 'appealing'. Do this within 6 weeks. You can only appeal if you have objected.