Unemployment benefit

The Temporary Unemployment Benefit Scheme BES applies from 1 January 2027 up to and including 31 December 2031. The scheme ensures that employees (including civil servants) on Bonaire, St. Eustatius or Saba can receive a benefit (for a maximum of three months) if they become unemployed through no fault of their own.

The unemployment benefit is available to employees (including civil servants) on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. You can receive a benefit for up to three months if:

• you work for an employer and receive a salary;
• you lose your job through no fault of your own (in which case you are not at fault for being unemployed);
• you have worked for at least 26 weeks in the ten months prior to losing your job;
• you have worked at least one hour per week during those weeks.

Some weeks also count even if you have not worked. These are:

• weeks in which you were on paid leave;
• weeks in which you were sick or received a sickness benefit;
• weeks in which you were on care leave or contingency leave.

When are you not eligible for the unemployment benefit?

You do not receive an unemployment benefit if you voluntarily resigned. You do also not receive a benefit if you were summarily dismissed. You are only entitled to a benefit if you are unemployed through no fault of your own. This means that your employment was terminated beyond your fault. This is the case, for example, when:

• You and your employer jointly entered into a settlement agreement (VSO) to terminate your employment. The VSO must clearly state that the initiative to terminate the employment comes from the employer. Is this not stated in the VSO, or did you take the initiative yourself? In that case, you are not entitled to an unemployment benefit;
• Your temporary agreement has expired. You are not entitled to a benefit if your employer offered you a renewal on the same terms and conditions and you refused this without a valid reason.

Please note: You only receive a benefit if you lose your job through no fault of your own.  

• Are you going to work fewer hours but do you remain employed? Then you do not receive a benefit.
• Do you have two jobs? In that case, you can claim a benefit if you lose one of your jobs through no fault of your own.

You are also not (no longer) entitled to a benefit if:

• you no longer hold a valid residence permit;
• you receive accident compensation for the job you have lost;
• if, whilst receiving your benefit, you leave the island for more than seven days without the permission of SZW. Please note: If you leave the island on several occasions during this benefit period, all days are added together;
• your income is equal to or greater than the monthly salary on which your benefit is based.

You must bring the following documents with your application:

• your sedula. This enables us to verify your identity;
• your employment agreement or temporary agency agreement for the job you have lost;
• a document showing that your employment was terminated through no fault of your own, for example a letter of dismissal or a settlement agreement;
• payslips covering a minimum of six and a maximum of ten months (depending on your personal circumstances) for all your jobs;
• if this applies to you: your valid residence permit;
• your bank account number and evidence that the bank account is in your name.

On the basis of your application and documentary evidence it is checked:

• whether you are (were) an employee in the Caribbean Netherlands according to the scheme;
• whether you are unemployed through no fault of your own;
• whether you meet the weeks requirement;
• when your benefit starts;
• how high your benefit will be;
• whether there are reasons why you are not entitled to the benefit.

You receive 75% of the monthly salary. The monthly salary is calculated by adding together your wages for the last six months and determining which pay band in the table set out in the Temporary Unemployment Benefit Scheme BES (in Dutch) this falls into. Did you work for multiple employers during that period? In that case, the salary you received over those six months from your other jobs is also considered.

The following types of income are included in the monthly salary:

• gross wages;
• overtime;
• sickness pay;
• benefit under the Sickness Insurance BES;
• benefit under the Accident Insurance BES;
• wages during leave.

The following income is not included in the monthly salary:

• holiday allowance;
• bonus;
• thirteenth month;
• tips;
• wage in kind.

Calculation example for multiple jobs:

In the six months before you became unemployed, you earned $2,500 a month with your employer. In addition, during those months you earned $600 a month with another employer.

• Your total income in the six months before you became unemployed was $18,600;
• According to the table in the Temporary Unemployment Benefit Scheme BES you then fall into pay band 19;
• The amount set for six months in pay band 19 is $18,504. This works out at a monthly salary of $3,084;
• Your benefit is then 75% of $3,084. This is $2,313 gross a month*;
• You are still earning $600 a month with your other employer;
• You are allowed to earn up to 25% of your benefit without it being deducted. In this example, 25% of the benefit is $771.
• You earn $600 a month with another employer. This amount is less than $771.
• That is why nothing is deducted from your unemployment benefit.
• You continue to receive $2,313 a month in unemployment benefit as long as there is no change in your circumstances.

*PLEASE NOTE: The calculated amount is a gross amount. Payroll tax may be withheld from your unemployment benefit. This withholding must be paid to the Tax Office Caribbean Netherlands (BCN). Whether payroll tax is withheld and, if so, how much, depends on:

• The level of your benefit.
• Other income you receive. 
• Your choice on the payroll tax statement. On the payroll tax statement, you indicate whether you want to claim the tax-free allowance and the elderly person’s tax credit in respect of your benefit.

You can receive a benefit for a maximum of three months.

The date on which your benefit starts depends on the date on which your employment ends:

• Does your employment end between the first and the 14th of the month? In that case, your benefit will start on the first of that month.
• Does your employment end between the 15th and the end of the month? In that case, your benefit will start on the 15th of that month.

If you receive a benefit, an end date will be set. The end date remains the same as long as your circumstances do not change and you continue to meet all the conditions.

Example: Does your benefit start on 1 January? Then your benefit stops on 1 April.

You receive the benefit within three weeks of submitting the monthly statement.

If you do not submit the monthly statement, your benefit will not be paid.

In the monthly statement, you indicate:

• whether you had any income that month. Did you receive any income during that month? In that case, you must also submit your payslip with your monthly statement;
• whether you have been outside the Caribbean Netherlands during that month.

Do you earn too much in a month at your other employer(s)? In that case, you will not receive any unemployment benefit that month. However, you will not lose your entitlement to the benefit straight away. Your entitlement to the unemployment benefit remains valid for six months from the date on which your benefit was granted. During this period, you may submit another monthly statement. Do you earn less in a subsequent month and do you meet the criteria again? In that case, you will still receive an unemployment benefit for that month.

Yes, to receive the benefit, you must have a local bank account. In other words: an account with a bank based in the Caribbean Netherlands.