If you are made redundant in Eindhoven or the Brabant region, you may be entitled to both a statutory redundancy payment (transitievergoeding) and unemployment benefit (WW-uitkering). Many employees assume that one excludes the other, but this is a persistent misconception. In this article, you will find out exactly how the overlap works, where the real pitfalls lie, and what you can do to ensure you do not lose a penny.
Redundancy payment and unemployment benefit are completely separate
The good news is clear: the redundancy payment is not offset against your unemployment benefit and does not reduce it in any way. The redundancy payment is a one-off gross sum paid by your employer; the unemployment benefit is a payment made by the UWV once you are out of work. The two streams run entirely in parallel and have no effect on each other’s amount.
As regards your level of Redundancy PaymentIn 2026, the statutory maximum is €102,000 gross. If your annual salary exceeds this figure, your gross annual salary serves as the cap. Payment accrues at one third of a monthly salary for each full year worked.
What the unemployment benefit entails in 2026
Unemployment benefit amounts to 75% of your last salary for the first two months and 70% thereafter. A maximum daily wage applies, meaning the maximum benefit amounts to approximately €48,000 per year. If you earn more than that, you will not receive 75% or 70% of your full salary, but rather the statutory maximum.
The length of your unemployment benefit depends on your employment history and age, with a current maximum period of 24 months. Please note: the government is discussing plans to reduce the maximum benefit period from 2028. Until that legislation has been adopted, the current rules continue to apply in full.
When the end date in your settlement agreement determines everything
Although the redundancy payment and unemployment benefit do not directly affect each other, there is one element that is crucial to your entitlement to unemployment benefit: the end date of your employment. The UWV always calculates on the basis of a notional notice period. This is the statutory notice period that would have applied had your employer formally terminated the employment contract.
If the end date in your settlement agreement (VSO) is set too early, your unemployment benefit will start later than your dismissal date, or you may even face a period with neither salary nor benefit. If the end date is set too late, you continue to receive salary for longer — which can work in your favour. The notional notice period is:
- 1 month for less than 5 years of service
- 2 months for 5 to 10 years of service
- 3 months for 10 to 15 years of service
- 4 months for 15 years or more of service
The end date in the settlement agreement must be at least equal to this notional notice period; otherwise your unemployment benefit will start later than you expect.
Conditions your settlement agreement must meet to preserve your entitlement to unemployment benefit
Not every settlement agreement automatically entitles you to unemployment benefit. The UWV always makes its own independent assessment of whether the unemployment is the employee’s own fault, regardless of what the agreement states. To safeguard your entitlement to unemployment benefit, the settlement agreement must at a minimum satisfy the following points:
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Plan a conversation- There is no urgent reason for the dismissal, such as theft or refusal to work.
- It can be demonstrated that the initiative for the dismissal lay with the employer
- The settlement agreement contains a neutral reason for dismissal, such as economic grounds or a difference of opinion
- The notional notice period has been correctly incorporated into the end date.
- You must have registered with the UWV as a jobseeker no later than one week before the end date.
- The 14-day cooling-off period after signing is stated in the settlement agreement
If even one of these elements is missing, you risk a waiting period before your unemployment benefit begins, or you may lose your entitlement to benefit entirely.
Common mistakes when dealing with the overlap between redundancy payment and unemployment benefit
In practice, things often go wrong when combining a redundancy payment and unemployment benefit. Employees are frequently so relieved to receive the redundancy payment that they pay insufficient attention to the unemployment benefit conditions in the settlement agreement. This can prove very costly. The most common mistakes are:
- Agreeing to too short a notice period, resulting in a period without income
- Including an unclear or incorrect reason for dismissal which implies culpable conduct
- Registering too late as a jobseeker with UWV
- Forgetting to check whether the 14-day cooling-off period is included in the settlement agreement
- Assuming that a higher redundancy payment automatically means a better unemployment benefit position – it does not
Practical tips for employees in the Eindhoven region
If you work in or around Eindhoven for companies such as ASML, Philips or Signify, you will frequently encounter redundancy processes and the accompanying settlement agreements. It is particularly wise to be prepared in Brabant. A few tips:
- Always have your settlement agreement reviewed before you sign, even if the redundancy payment appears correct
- Check the end date against your statutory notice period
- Register with the UWV as a jobseeker in good time, even if you are not yet sure whether you will be claiming unemployment benefit.
- Please provide a neutral reason for dismissal.
- Do not give in to pressure to sign quickly — you are legally entitled to a 14-day cooling-off period
- If you have any doubts about the combination of your redundancy payment and benefit entitlement, consult an employment lawyer.
Why Labour Lawyer Eindhoven
At Arbeidsjurist Eindhoven, we know how the overlap between redundancy pay and unemployment benefit plays out in practice, including with the major employers in the region. We don't just check whether your redundancy pay is correct; we also verify whether the settlement agreement fully protects your entitlement to unemployment benefit. This way, you avoid unpleasant surprises when you can least afford them.
Have you received a settlement agreement or are you in discussions about dismissal? Feel free to contact us with no obligation. We are happy to discuss your situation with you.
Frequently asked questions
Does the redundancy payment affect my unemployment benefit?
Nee. De transitievergoeding wordt niet verrekend met je WW-uitkering en heeft geen invloed op de hoogte van de uitkering die je ontvangt. Het zijn twee aparte uitkeringen: de transitievergoeding wordt betaald door je werkgever, terwijl de WW-uitkering door het UWV wordt betaald. Je kunt beide tegelijkertijd ontvangen.
The maximum statutory redundancy pay is capped at €17,187.
In 2026, the maximum redundancy payment is €102,000 gross. If your annual salary exceeds €102,000, your gross annual salary will be the maximum. The payment is calculated on the basis of one third of a monthly salary for each full year worked.
What is a notional notice period and why does it matter for my unemployment benefit?
With a settlement agreement there is no formal notice period, but the UWV calculates as though notice had been given. The notional notice period is the statutory notice period that would have applied in the case of ordinary dismissal. If the end date in your settlement agreement is shorter than that period, your unemployment benefit will start later than expected and you may lose income as a result.
When am I not entitled to unemployment benefit after signing a settlement agreement?
You are not entitled to unemployment benefit if you took the initiative to end your employment yourself, if there was a compelling reason for dismissal (such as theft or serious refusal to work), or if the reason for dismissal stated in the settlement agreement implies culpable conduct. The UWV always makes this assessment independently, regardless of what the agreement states.
What do I need to arrange in order to receive unemployment benefit promptly after dismissal?
Register with the UWV as a jobseeker no later than one week before your dismissal date. Ensure that the end date in your settlement agreement respects the notional notice period, that the reason for dismissal is neutral and that the initiative for the dismissal lay with the employer. If in any doubt, have the settlement agreement checked by an employment lawyer first.
We're happy to help you brainstorm ideas. For advice tailored to your specific situation, we'd be happy to sit down with you. No rights can be derived from the content of this page and it may contain inaccuracies.
