More and more employers are running into it: the WIA decision from UWV comes too late. This creates uncertainty about continued wage payment, termination of employment and possible sanctions. From 1 September 2025, the UWV will reintroduce the 60-plus measure, which will speed up the assessment of WIA applications for older workers.
What does the measure entail?
Normally, an insurance doctor assesses whether an employee is entitled to WIA benefits. For employees aged 60 or older who complete their two-year sickness waiting period on or after 1 September 2025, this will change. Instead of a doctor, an employment expert will assess the application. Only in special cases will a doctor still be involved.
Why this change?
Due to a shortage of insurance doctors and an increase in the number of WIA applications, waiting times at the UWV have increased significantly in recent years. This measure will allow the UWV to do around 10,000 extra assessments a year.
What do we notice in practice?
We see that employers increasingly face delays in receiving the WIA decision. This leads to questions about:
- the salary continuation obligation after 104 weeks of illness;
- termination of employment;
- the possibility of a wage penalty.
Good to know
If the WIA application is submitted on time, but the UWV does not decide on time, no wage penalty can be imposed. The employer then no longer has to pay wages after 104 weeks of illness and may terminate the employment. In that case, the employee receives an advance from UWV until a final decision is made.