How much bridging benefit can you get?
The amount of your bridging benefit depends on:
- the number of years in which you built up rights to an AOW pension
- your income
How much AOW pension have you built up?
If you have not always lived in the Netherlands, or if you worked for a period outside the Netherlands, you will probably get less than a full AOW pension. Your pension will be reduced by 2% for each year you were not living or working in the Netherlands. This means your bridging benefit will also be lower.
Your income
We look at your gross monthly income. If you get a pension or benefit, this will be deducted from the bridging benefit in full. Other types of income, for example, wages or salary or income from self-employment will be partly deducted from the bridging benefit.
For more information about how we calculate the bridging benefit, select the situation that applies to you.
This explanation is based on the maximum bridging benefit amount of €1,509.42 gross per month.
How is a pension or benefit deducted from the bridging benefit?
The full amount of a pension or benefit is deducted from the bridging benefit. If your pension or benefit is more than €1,509.42 gross per month, you cannot get a bridging benefit.
How are wages or earnings from your own business deducted from the bridging benefit?
Your wages or your earnings from your own business are only partly deducted from the bridging benefit. The first €320.04 is not regarded as income. The calculation is as follows:
- Deduct €320.04 from your income
- Divide the remaining amount by 3 and deduct this from your income as well.
- The amount of income that is left is then deducted from the bridging benefit.
If you earn more than €2,584.17 gross per month, you will not get a bridging benefit.
The maximum amount of bridging benefit you can get
The maximum amount of your bridging benefit depends on how much early retirement benefit you received.
If your early retirement benefit is replaced by a lower old age pension, and your pension starts in the month of your 65th birthday or on the 1st day of the following month, the amount you lose is the maximum amount of bridging benefit you can get. The bridging benefit can never be more than that amount.
If your early retirement benefit was less than €1,509.42, the maximum amount of bridging benefit you can get is the same as your early retirement benefit.
If your early retirement benefit was more than €1,509.42, the maximum amount of bridging benefit you can get is €1,509.42.
This explanation is based on the maximum bridging benefit amount of €960.35 gross per month.
Only your income is taken into account when we calculate your bridging benefit. Your partner's income is not taken into account. However, the amount you can get if you have a partner is different to the amount you would get if you did not have a partner.
How is a pension or benefit deducted from the bridging benefit?
Any other pension or benefits are deducted in full from the bridging benefit. If your other pensions or benefits come to more than €960.35 gross per month, you will not get a bridging benefit.
How are wages or earnings from your own business deducted from the bridging benefit?
Your wages or your earnings from your own business are only partly deducted from the bridging benefit. The first €320.04 is not regarded as income.
The calculation is as follows:
- Deduct €320.04 from your income
- Divide the remaining amount by 3 and deduct this from your income as well.
- The amount of income that is left is then deducted from the bridging benefit.
If you earn more than €1,760.57 gross per month, you will not get a bridging benefit.
The maximum amount of bridging benefit you can get
The maximum amount of your bridging benefit depends on how much early retirement benefit you received.
If your early retirement benefit is replaced by a lower old age pension, and your pension starts in the month of your 65th birthday, or on the 1st day of the following month, the amount you lose (the difference between your early retirement benefit and your pension) is the maximum amount you can get in bridging benefit. The bridging benefit can never be more than that amount.
If your early retirement benefit was less than €960.35, the maximum amount of bridging benefit you can get is the same as your early retirement benefit.
If your early retirement benefit was more than €960.35, the maximum amount of bridging benefit you can get is €960.35.
Not enough income and assets
If you do not have enough income and assets to live on, your income may be below the Dutch minimum income. That means you can apply for income support (bijstand) or an AIO supplement. Select your situation to find out more.
If you live alone, or you live with a partner who does not get an AOW pension, you can apply to your gemeente for income support (bijstand). For more information, go to the website werk.nl.
If your partner is already receiving an AOW old-age pension, you can apply to us for income support for people of AOW pension age (AIO supplement).
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Version: 1 July 2024