Are you still allowed to work with IVA benefits?

When an employee is on long-term sick leave, he or she may be entitled to IVA benefits. But what if a person still finds an opportunity to work? Is this allowed?

Answer: definitely!

A person may earn up to 20% of your former wages in employment during the time he or she receives IVA benefits.

Actually, beneath this question lies the meaning of IVA (Inkomensvoorziening Volledig Arbeidsongeschiktten), the full disability benefit provided by the UWV. An employee receives this benefit when he meets the following two conditions:

• The employee may earn 20% or less of the former wage.
• This will almost certainly remain so in the future.

If an employee meets these criteria, there will be no negative impact on income. It may even be the case that the total income may be somewhat higher due to the two sources, benefits and salaried employment.

Example: you can find a (small) paid job 1 day a week. This job suits you well and you get a small salary for it, roughly comparable to your old salary. In the past you worked full time and now so 20% of that. The IVA now remains and the income is partly deducted from your benefit. So you keep something from it.

What if you can work more than 20%?

An employee may also work more than 20%, then the IVA ends and it becomes a WGA benefit. The WGA (Work Resumption Partially Disabled) benefit is then a supplement to the salary he or she earns. An employee does not have to ask the UWV for permission for this. However, it is important that this is reported to the UWV within a week of starting.

Note! If the work stops, the employee will receive unemployment benefits for that portion. Or you must have increased disability.

Example: the job above is so well liked and medically it is possible to work half a day more, so the income becomes greater than 20%, namely 30%. The IVA lapses and a WGA entitlement arises. The income is deducted from the WGA benefit. The UWV again determines the degree of incapacity and the benefit is different.

What is the tax?

Do you have an employee sitting in absenteeism? Even then an employee's load capacity can change. It is a good idea to have a timely load check by a Occupational Assessor. Read more about Occupational Assessor examinations.