The Netherlands

Abstract

The Dutch social security system aims at providing income for citizens who do not or no longer participate in the labour process as a consequence of sickness, disability, unemployment or old age.They are provided with a substitute income. Under certain circumstances, citizens may also claim supplementary income if their income, either from work or from social insurance benefits, is insufficient to meet the general costs of living, or in the event of exceptional costs (children, specific medical expenses). The system has additional aims. It aims to prevent people from becoming permanently excluded from the labour market due to, for instance, disability or unemployment. It also aims at re-integrating disabled and unemployed persons into the labour market.