The Dutch government is introducing basic disability insurance for self-employed individuals.
The premium is capped at €171 per month. The benefit matches minimum wage.
The coverage includes people previously excluded from private insurance because of age or medical history.
This may represent progress. However, there is a two-year waiting period before benefits begin.If you become unable to work tomorrow, the insurance will not help you for 24 months.
Your income stops. Your fixed costs do not. The policy only steps in after you have already absorbed the full financial impact of disability for two years.
What the waiting period means in practice
Take a self-employed consultant invoicing €4,000 per month. Work stops due to illness. Invoices stop immediately. Rent, software subscriptions, tax obligations, and personal expenses continue.
The insurance does not cover the gap. You need savings, a partner's income, or existing arrangements to bridge those first 24 months. 30% of ZZP entrepreneurs say they do not survive for more than 6 months without income. The waiting period is four times longer than their financial runway.
This is not theoretical. Three-quarters of Dutch self-employed individuals currently have no disability coverage. The new insurance gives them access to a safety net, but only after the most dangerous period has already passed.
Who is excluded
The insurance does not cover everyone. Entrepreneurs with a BV structure are excluded. Those already holding private insurance are excluded. Partially employed people are excluded from the scheme.
Your business structure affects your eligibility for coverage. Sole proprietors are covered by the new policy. Director-major shareholders (DGA) with a BV structure are excluded. This distinction is important for anyone considering whether to operate as a sole proprietor or to incorporate as a BV, as it determines access to the public safety net.
These exclusions result in a diverse landscape. Entrepreneurs manage disability risk in different ways. For small business owners in vulnerable phases, how risk is handled can matter more than the premium cost.
How to bridge the gap
The two-year waiting period aligns with the period during which sick employees receive continued salary before accessing WIA disability benefits. The government has aimed for consistency between employee and self-employed systems. This is the policy rationale. However, it does not address the immediate cash flow needs.
You have three practical options:
Build a savings cushion of two years’ operating expenses plus personal costs. This eliminates reliance on external support during the waiting period.
Join a donation circle (broodfonds) that provides payments for up to 2 years. Many self-employed professionals already use this structure as a bridge solution.
Maintain or buy supplemental private insurance. If available, it fills the 24-month gap, but may be inaccessible due to age or pre-existing conditions.
What you should do now
Review your financial position. Calculate how long you can cover fixed costs and personal expenses without income. If the answer is less than 24 months, you have exposure.
Evaluate whether a donation circle makes sense for your situation. Research the groups operating in your sector. Understand the contribution requirements and the conditions under which payments begin.
If you're considering incorporating, factor in the disability insurance exclusion when making your decision. A BV structure offers tax advantages but removes access to the public safety net. You'll need to manage disability risk privately.
The new insurance provides a basic level of protection. It reduces long-term risk. However, it does not remove the need for careful financial planning during the initial two years of disability, which remains each individual's responsibility.
The premium is affordable and the benefit meaningful.
The two-year waiting period, however, is where the main challenge lies. Planning is important for this period, whether through savings, mutual support, or private coverage. The insurance offers support after 24 months.
Before then, self-reliance is needed.
