UWV letter explained in English
Employee insurance agency. Pays unemployment benefit (WW), sickness benefit and disability benefit, and helps you find work.
Letters you may get
- Beslissing op uw aanvraag WW — whether you get unemployment benefit, and how much
- Uitnodiging — an appointment, for example with a work coach or a doctor
- Terugvordering — you got too much benefit and must pay it back
- Inkomstenopgave — you must report what you earned
What to do
- Apply for WW soon after your job ends — UWV asks you to do this within 1 week.
- Report all income and changes in Mijn UWV. If you don’t, you may have to pay money back.
- Find the deadline. Look for “termijn”, “uiterlijk”, “binnen”.
- Write the reference number from the letter on everything you send back, and keep copies.
- If you disagree with a decision, object in writing before the deadline (“bezwaar”, “beroep”, “verzet”). See the template.
Words you may see
- terugvordering
- Claim to pay money back, because you got too much.
- UWV
- Employee insurance agency. It pays unemployment, sickness and disability benefits.
- WW
- Unemployment benefit (Werkloosheidswet). You may get it for a while if you lose your job.
Questions
What is the UWV?
Employee insurance agency. Pays unemployment benefit (WW), sickness benefit and disability benefit, and helps you find work.
How long do I have to answer a letter from the UWV?
It depends on the letter. Look for words like “termijn”, “uiterlijk”, “binnen” — they mark the deadline. In the Netherlands, the time to object usually starts the day after the date on the letter (dagtekening), not the day it arrives. So count from the date on the letter. To object, the letter usually names the way to do it (“bezwaar”, “beroep”, “verzet”).
Can I read a UWV letter in English?
Yes. Take a photo of the letter with Briefly. It explains the letter in plain English, finds the deadline and the amount, and gives you ready-made replies in Dutch. Your letter never leaves your device.
Other offices in the Netherlands
Belastingdienst · Dienst Toeslagen (Belastingdienst/Toeslagen) · CJIB (Centraal Justitieel Incassobureau) · Gemeente · Waterschap / hoogheemraadschap · IND (Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst) · SVB (Sociale Verzekeringsbank) · DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs)