Benefit recipients

Benefit recipient: A person resident in the Netherlands whose main source of income in November of a given year is a pension or social security benefit.

Pensioner: a person aged 55 or over who is a resident of the Netherlands, and whose main source of income in November of a given year is a pension. ‘Pension’ includes benefits paid under the General Old Age Pension Act (AOW), occupational pensions, survivors’ pensions, annuities and benefits under the General Survivors Pension Act (ANW).

Social security benefit recipient: a person resident in the Netherlands whose main source of income in November of a given year is a social security benefit. Social security benefits include social welfare benefits (including income support and young disabled persons benefit (Wajong)) and employee insurance benefits relating to unemployment and sickness/incapacity for work. Please note that state pensions (AOW benefits) are categorised under ‘pensions’.