The Young Disabled Persons Disability Benefits Act, or Wajong, is for young people under the age of 18 who are unable to work or can no longer work due to illness or disability. Young people between 18 and 30 who contract an illness or disability while studying may also qualify for this benefit.
Wajong benefit level
If you cannot work at all, you are entitled to Wajong benefit of 75% of the minimum wage. This can be supplemented by various allowances.
If you are partially able to work, you are entitled to Wajong benefit of up to 70% of the minimum wage. This takes effect as soon as it is determined that you are partially able to work again, even if you do not yet have a job.
How long are you entitled to Wajong benefits?
A Wajong benefit starts from your 18th birthday or 1 year after you got an illness or disability while studying. This benefit runs until your state pension age.
It is also possible that benefits will be stopped. This can happen when someone:
- Be able to work fully again;
- Moving abroad, except when
- You have to move for medical treatment;
- Your parents or caregivers move abroad and you depend on them for daily care;
- Or if you can find gainful employment abroad (this does affect the amount of the benefit).
There may be changes in the amount of the benefit. This may be because:
- Someone is going to earn more or less;
- The minimum (youth) wage is changing;
- Until the 21st year with your birthday;
- After a reassessment by the UWV and the ability to work is adjusted
- When you get a guarantee amount and the minimum wage increases. Then the amount of the guarantee amount also changes.
