Benefit for older and partially disabled self-employed persons (IOAZ).

What is it?

You can apply for IOAZ benefit if you plan to quit your own business and your income is below the social minimum. You should apply for the benefit before you stop your business.

You are self-employed or practicing an independent profession in the form of:

  • a sole proprietorship,
  • A partnership, partnership, VOF;
  • a BV.

The benefit starts only when the business or self-employment has stopped. Your total income (employment income, benefits, pensions) and that of your partner are deducted from the IOAZ benefit.

As a partially disabled person, you may also be entitled to IOAZ benefits.

What to do.

You are eligible for IOAZ benefits if you:

  • Are 55 years of age or older and not yet receiving AOW
  • has been self-employed in the Netherlands for at least 10 years, or has been self-employed in the Netherlands for the last 3 years and employed in the Netherlands for 7 years before that
  • will stop your business within 1.5 years
  • worked at least 1,225 hours per year in your own business (if you and your partner worked together in the business, you must have worked at least 875 hours and your partner at least 525 hours)

As a partially disabled person, you may also be entitled to IOAZ benefits.

You have worked 1225 hours or more per year in your own business. This is an average of about 24 hours per week. If your partner also cooperated in the business, you must have worked at least 875 hours per year and your partner at least 525 hours in the business.

The profit from your business, together with any other income, must have been less than €25,909.00 gross average per year for the last 3 years.

The municipality examines whether you cannot earn a higher gross income than €26,760 with your business in the future. Your partner's income is also included in this income if he or she cooperates in the business and receives a compensation or a profit share. Other income, such as salary or unemployment benefit, does not count.

Request

You can apply for IOAZ benefit from the municipality. You should do this before you stop your business.

You can contact the municipality's Social Domain customer director by phone at: 0475 - 85 90 00

Approach

The information you must show includes:

  • a valid ID;
  • proof of your living situation: rental agreement or proof of ownership; 
  • Bank statements from the past period; and 
  • accounts for the last three years.

Objection and appeal

You can object to the decision on your application. Do this within 6 weeks. Do you then disagree with the decision on the objection? Then file an appeal with the court.

How long does it take?

Within 8 weeks, you will receive notice on your application.

Objecting

If you disagree with the municipality's decision, you can object within 6 weeks.