What is a First-Year Sickness Act - assessment?
The First Year Sickness Act assessment is an assessment by the UWV if a sick (former) employee has been sick for almost 1 year. The UWV is the only party authorized to perform a First Year Sickness Act assessment. The UWV will initiate the procedure itself, no application needs to be submitted.
The purpose of the assessment is to assess the remaining earning capacity of the (former) employee in relation to the customary wage. This may have consequences for whether or not the sickness benefit will continue.
When does the first-year Sickness Act assessment take place?
The First Year Sickness Act assessment takes place at the end of the first year in which the (former) employee is sick. Normally, the employee receives an invitation from the UWV after the 42nd week of illness. The assessment starts from the 44th week. In the 52nd week of absence, the (ex-)employee and (ex-)employer receive a letter with a decision.
What happens during the UWV's first-year assessment?
During the First Year Sickness Act assessment, the (former) employee has conversations with the UWV: in any case with the insurance physician and, depending on the situation, also with the labor expert. The insurance physician, and possibly the labor expert, make a report of their conversations with the (former) employee. The (ex-)employer and (ex-)employee will (partly) receive these reports, together with the decision.
Depending on the UWV's assessment, an (ex-)employee will or will not remain in the Sickness Benefits Act. The diligence and outcome of this assessment, is of great importance to both the (ex-)employee as well as the (ex-)employer. If the decision is that the (ex-)employee can earn 65% or more of the former salary, the ex-employer must stop the benefit as of the date included in the decision letter. Is the sickness benefit terminated? Then the "loss" for the (ex-)employer expires and the (ex-)employee will enter the Unemployment Insurance Act. If the (ex-)employee remains in the Sickness Benefits Act, the reintegration should be continued.
