Can I receive surviving dependants’ benefit outside the Netherlands?

In some countries outside the Netherlands you can receive Dutch surviving dependants’ benefit. The deceased person must have been insured under the Anw scheme in the Netherlands. You must also meet the other conditions that apply.

Who is insured under the Anw scheme?

Being ‘insured’ means being entitled to social insurance benefits. In the Netherlands this includes surviving dependants’ benefit, general old age pension and child benefit. There is no need to take out an insurance policy for this like for car insurance or health insurance. People who live or work in the Netherlands are usually automatically insured for social insurance benefits. People outside the Netherlands are not usually insured for Dutch social insurance benefits.

Where do you live?

In the EU, an EEA country, Switzerland or a country with which the Netherlands has a reciprocal agreement (treaty country)

If you live in an EU country, an EEA country, Switzerland or a country with which the Netherlands has a reciprocal agreement, you can receive surviving dependants’ benefit if your partner was insured under the Anw scheme. You must also meet the other conditions that apply.

Find out more about being insured under the surviving dependants’ benefit scheme (also known as the Anw survivor benefit scheme) (SVB)

In another country

Outside the EU, EEA, Switzerland and countries with which the Netherlands has a reciprocal agreement you usually cannot receive surviving dependants’ benefit. There are some exceptions.

Check whether you can receive surviving dependants’ benefit in the country where you live (SVB)

Conditions for surviving dependants’ benefit

If your partner dies you can receive surviving dependants’ benefit if you:

are under the state pension age, and
have a child under 18, or
are at least 45% unfit for work.

Orphans’ benefit

If both parents of a child under the age of 21 die, the child can receive orphans’ benefit. The parent who died last must have been insured under the Anw scheme.

Find out more about orphans’ benefit (SVB)

I receive surviving dependants’ benefit from a country other than the Netherlands

If you receive surviving dependants’ benefit from a country other than the Netherlands, you may still be able to receive a partial surviving dependants’ benefit.

Contact the SVB to discuss your personal situation.

If you live in Spain, Türkiye, Morocco, Suriname or South Africa, you can contact the SVB office at the Dutch embassy.