Free calculator
WIA waiting period calculator
When does the WIA benefit start? And when must the application reach UWV? Enter the first day of sickness, also with recovery in between, and you will instantly see:
- when to file the 42nd-week report with UWV
- the latest date the (early) WIA application must reach UWV
- when sick pay stops and the WIA benefit starts
- when the dismissal ban during illness ends
- when track 2 must start at the latest
Fully recovered in between?
Was your employee fully recovered for a while and then sick again? Enter that period here. If the recovery lasted less than four weeks, the periods of sickness are added together and every deadline moves later. If it lasted four weeks or more, the waiting period starts again from the new sickness report.
Nothing is stored. The dates you enter are kept in the web address, so you can return to the calculation later.
How the calculation works
How do you calculate the WIA waiting period?
The WIA waiting period is 104 weeks. It starts on the first day of sickness and ends on the last day of week 104. If your employee is still sick then and is entitled to a WIA benefit, the benefit starts the next day. Sick pay also runs for 104 weeks and therefore ends on the same day.
All Gatekeeper deadlines are calculated from that same first day of sickness: the problem analysis in week 6, the plan of action in week 8, the 42nd-week report, the first-year evaluation and the WIA application in week 93. The Gatekeeper Act roadmap explains what to do at each step.
What if your employee recovered in between?
Periods of sickness that follow each other with a break of less than four weeks are added together. Only days of sickness count; the days of recovery do not. As a result, all deadlines shift by the number of recovery days. If your employee was fully recovered for four weeks or more, a new waiting period starts with a new sickness report. The planner handles as many breaks as you enter.
Why do the end of sick pay and the end of the dismissal ban differ?
Sick pay and the waiting period last 104 weeks: exactly 728 days. The dismissal ban during illness lasts two years, and two years is 730 or 731 days. That is why the dismissal ban ends two or three days after sick pay. Once the ban has ended, a dismissal application to UWV is possible, but only if the reintegration is in order. Read more in dismissing a sick employee.
How does the planner handle leap years?
The 104 weeks are always 728 days, even when they include 29 February. For the dismissal ban, the planner counts 731 days if a 29 February falls within the two years of sickness, and 730 otherwise. With recovery in between, the planner looks at the days of sickness themselves, so a leap day during a recovery period does not count.
Pregnancy and childbirth during illness
Pregnancy and maternity leave does not count towards the waiting period. Whether sickness before and after the leave is added together depends on the cause. The planner does not calculate this automatically and shows a warning if you indicate a pregnancy. In that case, have the deadlines checked by the occupational physician or UWV.
When must track 2 start?
Track 2 starts as soon as it is clear that a return within your own organisation is no longer realistic, and no later than six weeks after the first-year evaluation. If you wait too long, UWV can impose a wage sanction: up to one extra year of sick pay. How to determine the moment is explained in when track 2 reintegration starts and starting track 2 early.
Sources
Frequently asked questions about the WIA waiting period
How long is the WIA waiting period?
The waiting period is 104 weeks, counted from the first day of sickness. Recovery periods of less than four weeks do not count, so in calendar time the waiting period can be longer.
When must the WIA application reach UWV?
By week 93 of the sickness at the latest. Around week 88, UWV sends a letter with the exact deadline. The employee applies for WIA, together with the reintegration report.
When do you file the 42nd-week report?
By the first working day after the 42nd week of sickness. If you report late, UWV can impose a fine.
Does a recovery period count towards the waiting period?
No. With a break of less than four weeks, the periods of sickness are added together, but the recovery days themselves do not count. With a break of four weeks or more, a new waiting period starts.
Why does the dismissal ban end later than sick pay?
Sick pay lasts 104 weeks, which is 728 days. The dismissal ban lasts two years, which is 730 or 731 days depending on a leap year.