Own Risk Bearing WGA

If you are self-insurer for WGA, you pay the WGA benefits of your (former) employees and the costs of reintegration. In other words, you bear the risk for disability.

You are responsible for employees who get sick after you become self-insured. This also means that you have lower costs in disability premiums. But it also creates more obligations and responsibilities.

What is self-insured WGA?

After the second year of illness, your employees will receive disability benefits. They are compulsorily insured for this(Wet Werk en Inkomen naar Arbeidsvermogen; WIA).. The UWV regulates the WIA, but you pay the costs. You pay a WIA premium for this. There is always a basic premium. Further costs are based on the differentiated premium; this depends on the risk.

You can only carry your own risk for employees covered by the WGA; this applies since January 1, 2017, to both permanent staff and flex workers with WGA benefits. This is not possible for employees covered by the IVA. If you become WGA self-insurer from this date, the UWV will continue to pay the benefits and reintegration of your (former) employees who already have WGA benefits.

When to carry own risk WGA?

It can be advantageous to become self-insurer for the WGA if the risk of your employee receiving WIA benefits is low. This is because you will then only pay the basic premium.

From the moment you become the WGA self-insurer, you pay your employees' WGA benefits yourself for the first 10 years, should they become entitled to them. After this period, UWV pays the benefit and the reintegration. An IVA benefit is always paid by UWV; you are not responsible for this.

Responsibilities and obligations

If you opt for self-insurance WGA, the following things should be considered:

• You pay your (former) employees' WGA benefits.
• Also, reintegration and reintegration guidance.
• Ensure that your employee complies with his legal obligations. You have the authority to take action if he does not comply with the obligations. An example of an obligation is a call for a consultation hour from the company doctor or Occupational Assessor.

You remain responsible for your employees who have WGA benefits and are no longer employed by you. Even if you stop being self-insured, you remain responsible for ongoing pathways and benefits. This also applies to employees who were already sick when you were self-insured and receive WGA benefits after this has stopped.

You should expect your (former) employee to make every effort to find suitable work. Conversely, he may expect you to do the same to get him back to work. If you cannot work this out together, you can always ask UWV for advice.

Conditions of self-insurance WGA

If you want to apply for WGA self-insurance, you must have a guarantee declaration from an insurer or bank. This states that you are able to meet your obligations, and that the insurer or bank gives you the guarantee to do so. To draw up the statement, you should use the Model Guarantee Statement from the Tax Office.

Large and small organizations can become self-insured. However, this does not apply to a branch or subsidiary. A company can only take on this as a whole.