Are you self-employed, over 55 years old but younger than retirement age, and do you have insufficient income?
Then you may be eligible for an IOAZ benefit.
IOAZ stands for Income Provision for Older and Partially Disabled Former Self-Employed Persons.
The IOAZ supplements your income up to the social minimum. This is the minimum amount the government considers necessary for a person to be able to live on.
The IOAZ is specifically for entrepreneurs who have to close their business because they earn too little.
Then you may be eligible for an IOAZ benefit.
IOAZ stands for Income Provision for Older and Partially Disabled Former Self-Employed Persons.
The IOAZ supplements your income up to the social minimum. This is the minimum amount the government considers necessary for a person to be able to live on.
The IOAZ is specifically for entrepreneurs who have to close their business because they earn too little.
When are you entitled?
You can apply for an IOAZ if you meet these rules:
- You have stopped working in your profession or business.
- You were between 55 years old and retirement age when you applied.
- Your income in the 3 years before the application was lower than €34.890 per year.
- You also do not expect to earn more than €34.890 per year in the future.
- You have worked as a self-employed person for at least 10 years, or:
- Worked as a self-employed person for 3 years and
- having worked as an employee for the previous 7 years.
- You have always worked at least 1.225 hours per year in your own company (approximately 24 hours per week).
- You apply for the IOAZ before you stop your business or profession.
- You are closing your business within 18 months after you have submitted the application.
- Your monthly income after closing your business is lower than the applicable IOAZ standard (the assistance standard for your situation).
- If you have a partner who works in the business, that partner must:
- work at least 525 hours per year, and
- Be 55 years or older, but have not yet reached the state pension age.
- The municipality examines your income and future expectations to determine whether you are entitled to an IOAZ benefit.
Do you have assets (savings or possessions) of more than €170.725 (2025)?
Then part of that wealth counts as income.
The municipality then charges 3% per year of the amount above the threshold. This is deducted from your IOAZ benefit.
Example:
- Do you have €180.725 in assets? That's €10.000 above the threshold.
- 3% of €10.000 = €300.
- This amount will be deducted from your benefit.
How do you apply for it?
The IOAZ benefit is administered by the Regional Organisation of Self-Employed Persons (ROZ).
They do this for the municipalities of Berkelland, Oost Gelre and Winterswijk, on behalf of Fijnder.
For more information and an application, please visit www.rozgroep.nl.
There you can make an appointment and go through all the steps.
Are you unsure whether you are entitled? Contact ROZ or FijnderWe are happy to look into this with you.