Leave and income
Short-term care leave is generally up to twice weekly working hours per twelve months, with at least 70% pay and no less than minimum wage. Long-term care leave is up to six times weekly hours per twelve months and generally unpaid. A collective agreement or arrangement with the works council can contain different terms.
Ask which application procedure applies. An urgent emergency and planned extended leave are different situations. Record start date, duration, hours and pay arrangements.
Pension and cover
Lower pay does not reduce every scheme’s pension base in the same way. Ask which accrual, partner cover and disability cover continue. Check contribution sharing and the effects of permanently reducing hours or leaving employment.
Voluntary continuation may have conditions, deadlines and costs. It is not a universal right to pay only the employer share. An annuity is a separate product with its own tax allowance and conditions, not an automatic repair of every loss.
AOW and support
AOW depends on insurance rather than directly on working hours. Living in the Netherlands generally means insurance, with exceptions; caring abroad needs a separate SVB check. Voluntary insurance is not automatically available.
Ask your municipality about support and local caregiver recognition. Recognition is not a general pension-compensation entitlement. Budget using actual agreements and expenses without assuming standard national loss or tax-exemption amounts.
What does BPH do?
Bureau Pensioen Hulp has no AFM licence. BPH provides general education and, on request, can introduce you to an external adviser using contact details only. BPH does not provide personal product recommendations, compare products for you or mediate in arranging them. Check an external adviser’s authorisation, services and fees yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Does accrual always continue during unpaid leave?
No. Ask the provider about scheme rules, cover and any continuation conditions.
Does AOW automatically fall if I work less?
No. Accrual depends on insurance status, not directly on working hours.
Sources and reference date
Reference date: 28 October 2026. Check your own scheme and current conditions before deciding.