The government provides a basic income upon retirement or occupational disability. Under certain conditions the government may also provide a benefit to your relatives in the event of your death.

Pension

If you are born before 1 January, 1953, you will receive an AOV benefit from the government as of 60 years. If you are born on or after 1 January, 1953, the AOV retirement age will be increased to 65 years in 2021 as follows:

The AOV benefit is a basic retirement benefit for everyone who has lived or worked in the Dutch Caribbean region and is paid by the Dutch Caribbean government department. The AOV benefit is a lifelong benefit. For more information, please go to AOV.

Benefit in the event of your death

If you die, your partner and/or children may receive a state benefit by virtue of the Widows and Orphans Benefits Act, called the AWW benefit. AWW is short for ‘Algemene Weduwen- en Wezenwet’. Your children from 0 to 14 years automatically receive an orphan benefit, children from 15 to 24 years are entitled to an orphan benefit if they are disabled or if they follow full-time or nearly full-time education. The regulation is is administered by the Dutch Caribbean government department. Not everyone is entitled to an AWW benefit, certain conditions have to be met. Please go to AWW for more information.

Payment during your incapacitation

If you become incapacitated for work due to illness, after the third day of reporting sick you are entitled to sick pay for a maximum of two years (civil servants for a maximum of four years). This scheme is implemented by the Department for the Netherlands in the Caribbean (Rijksdienst Caribisch Nederland). Click here to read more about the Sickness Insurance BES (Ziektenverzekering BES).