Will I automatically receive a WIA benefit?
- 11/03/2026
- Posted by: Rosalie Derksen
- Category: Uncategorized
No, you do not automatically receive a WIA benefit after the 104-week waiting period. The UWV (Dutch Employee Insurance Agency) first assesses your capacity to work and determines whether you are entitled to a benefit. You must actively submit an application yourself and meet specific conditions. The degree of incapacity for work determines which type of WIA benefit you may receive.
What is a WIA benefit and when are you eligible?
A WIA benefit is an income provision for employees who, after a period of long-term illness, are no longer able to work fully. The WIA (Wet werk en inkomen naar arbeidsvermogen, Work and Income according to Labour Capacity Act) provides financial support to people who are permanently limited in their ability to work due to illness or disability.
There are two types of WIA benefits:
- WGA benefit (Werkhervatting Gedeeltelijk Arbeidsgeschikten – Partial Return to Work): for people who are 35–80% incapacitated for work
- IVA benefit (Inkomensvoorziening Volledig Arbeidsongeschikten – Full Incapacity Benefit): for people who are more than 80% incapacitated for work and whose condition is permanent
To be eligible for a WIA benefit, you must have completed the 104-week waiting period. What happens during those 104 weeks differs per situation:
- Employees with an employer receive continued salary payment (loondoorbetaling) from their employer during the waiting period, not a Ziektewet benefit. The employer is legally required to continue paying at least 70% of the salary for two years.
- Safety net claimants (vangnetters) such as temporary agency workers, people without an employer, or people on a fixed-term contract that ended during their illness, do receive a Ziektewet (Sickness Benefits Act) payment from the UWV.
This distinction is important, because the application process and income situation differ significantly between these two groups.
Do you automatically receive a WIA benefit after the waiting period?
No, a WIA benefit is never granted automatically. You must submit an application to the UWV yourself. How that process works depends on your situation:
Are you an employee with an employer? Your WIA application is submitted via the reintegration report (re-integratieverslag, RIV). At the end of the waiting period, you and your employer jointly submit a reintegration report to the UWV. The UWV first assesses whether the reintegration efforts over the past two years have been sufficient, this is known as the poortwachterstoets (Gatekeeper Assessment). Only then is your capacity for work assessed.
Are you a safety net claimant? The UWV will send you an application form approximately 13 weeks before the end of your Ziektewet benefit. You must return this form within the set deadline.
In both cases: submit your application on time and in full. A late or incomplete application can lead to delays or loss of benefit entitlement.
How does the UWV assess whether you are entitled to a WIA benefit?
The UWV uses a comprehensive assessment process to determine your capacity for work. An insurance doctor (verzekeringsarts) and a labour expert (arbeidsdeskundige) jointly assess your situation to determine how much you can still earn compared to healthy people with a similar background.
The assessment consists of two steps:
Medical assessment – the insurance doctor maps your complaints and functional limitations and records these in a Functional Abilities List (Functionele Mogelijkhedenlijst, FML).
Labour assessment – the labour expert uses the FML to determine what work you can still do and what you could earn doing it.
The UWV calculates your residual earning capacity (restverdiencapaciteit) by looking at your current health and functional abilities, which jobs are within your reach, the salary you could earn in those jobs, and your work history, education and skills.
Based on this assessment, the UWV determines your degree of incapacity for work:
- Less than 35% incapacitated → no entitlement to WIA
- 35–80% incapacitated → entitlement to a WGA benefit (provided you meet the employment history requirement)
- More than 80% incapacitated and permanent → entitlement to an IVA benefit
Important regarding the WGA: the WGA has two phases. You first receive an earnings-related benefit (loongerelateerde uitkering), the duration of which depends on your employment history. After that, you receive either a supplementary benefit (loonaanvullingsuitkering, if you work sufficiently) or a follow-up benefit (vervolguitkering, if you do not work or work insufficiently). The follow-up benefit is considerably lower, so it is important to keep working on returning-to-work.
The entire assessment process typically takes three to six months. You can submit relevant information yourself, such as medical reports or information about your workplace.
What happens if your WIA application is rejected?
If your WIA application is rejected, the UWV has determined that you are less than 35% incapacitated for work. You are then considered capable of working sufficiently to earn your own income.
If your application is rejected, you have several options. You can submit an objection (bezwaar) within six weeks if you disagree with the assessment. The UWV will then review your file again. If the objection is also rejected, you can appeal to the court.
Financially, you may be able to claim other provisions:
- Unemployment benefit (WW) – if your employment contract ends after the waiting period and you meet the employment history requirement. Note: you must be available for work to qualify.
- Social assistance (bijstand) – if you are not entitled to WW and have no other income.
- Reintegration support – via the UWV or a return-to-work agency.
A rejection does not mean you are fully recovered. It simply means the UWV considers you capable of earning your own income. Keep actively looking for work that suits your abilities and seek professional guidance if needed.
What role does return-to-work play in your WIA benefit?
Return-to-work plays a crucial role, starting well before the WIA application. The Wet verbetering poortwachter(Gatekeeper Improvement Act, WvP) places concrete obligations on both the employer and the employee during the 104 weeks of sick leave. If these are not met, the UWV can impose a wage sanction (loonsanctie) on the employer, requiring them to continue paying the salary for up to one additional year.
There are two main reintegration tracks:
- Track 1 (Spoor 1) – return to your own employer, possibly in an adapted role or with workplace adjustments
- Track 2 (Spoor 2) – supported job search with a new employer, when return to your current employer is not possible
Successful reintegration can positively influence your WIA situation. Finding suitable work during the assessment process can demonstrate that your work capacity is higher than initially expected.
Even after a WIA benefit is granted, reintegration remains important – especially with a WGA benefit. The UWV can require you to participate in activities that increase your chances of employment, such as training, job application coaching or career guidance. Active participation also prevents you from falling back on the lower follow-up benefit.
How UFIND supports you during WIA trajectories and return-to-work
A WIA trajectory is often lengthy, complex and emotionally demanding. UFIND offers specialised Track 2 return-to-work programmes for highly educated professionals who are looking for suitable work with a new employer during or after their WIA trajectory.
Our approach combines practical reintegration support with the ACT methodology (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) to strengthen your mental resilience. This evidence-based method helps you turn limiting thoughts into positive action, even during a lengthy and uncertain WIA process.
Our services for WIA trajectories include:
- Track 2 reintegration – personal guidance in finding new employment outside your current organisation
- ACT coaching – strengthening mental resilience and self-confidence
- Dedicated coaching – one fixed coach guiding you throughout the entire trajectory
- Labour market exploration – insight into opportunities that match your profile and capacity
Would you like to know more about how we can support you during your WIA trajectory? Contact us for a personal conversation about your situation and possibilities.