WIA After Long-Term Illness
Short answer
WIA becomes relevant after around 104 weeks of illness. The practical mistake is waiting until that moment to start reading. By the time most people begin asking about WIA, the file should already be well advanced. The timeline, reintegration documents and the application window all matter before the two-year point is actually reached.
For users, the most useful simplified rule is this: if long-term illness is continuing, treat week 88 as a preparation point and week 104 as an outcome point, not as the first moment of attention.
Who this article is for
This page is for:
- expats approaching the end of the long-term sickness period
- employees or Ziektewet recipients who may move into WIA
- readers who want to understand the difference between WGA and IVA
- people who need a cleaner timeline for the UWV application route
Start with the timeline, not the label
A lot of users ask, “Will I get WIA?” too early, as if WIA is just a yes-or-no label.
The first better question is: Where am I in the sickness timeline?
That is because WIA is built on a history:
- the original illness period
- reintegration efforts
- employer or benefit-route documentation
- the formal application window
Without that timeline, the rest of the discussion stays vague.
Week 88 matters more than people think
UWV indicates that around week 88, the file moves into the formal application-preparation phase. That is a much better control point than waiting until pay continuation is nearly over.
If a user only starts gathering documents near week 104, the application file often becomes rushed. This is why the handover from long-term sickness to WIA should be treated as a staged process rather than as one final form.
The 65% earning-capacity threshold is the legal core
WIA is about work capacity, not only about diagnosis. A central threshold is whether, because of illness, you can still earn more than or less than the relevant part of your former wage.
This matters because users often describe the situation in emotional or informal terms such as:
- “I feel unable to work”
- “My employer thinks I cannot return”
- “I can only do a little bit now”
Those descriptions may be true, but WIA is decided through a structured capacity assessment rather than through informal impressions.
WGA and IVA should be understood, but not self-assigned
At a high level:
- WGA is linked to long-term incapacity where some work capacity may still remain
- IVA is linked to full and sustainable incapacity for work
Users should understand that distinction, because it helps them ask better questions. But they should not self-classify too early. The formal route and assessment still determine the outcome.
The reintegration file still matters at the WIA stage
WIA does not replace the earlier sickness history. The earlier file still matters because it shows:
- what work or reintegration was attempted
- what limitations existed over time
- what documentation was built during the first two years
- whether the timeline is complete and coherent
This is why the strongest WIA file is one continuous file from the first long-term sickness stage onward.
Special routes exist, but should not be over-assumed
Some users hear about special routes such as early WIA or simplified treatment for certain older applicants and immediately assume they must qualify. That is risky.
Special routes can be important, but they are conditional and date-sensitive. They should be checked carefully on the live official page rather than treated as broad shortcuts.
Why delays are dangerous here
A weak WIA file often shows one of these patterns:
- the user waited too long to prepare
- the week-88 phase was missed or underused
- key reintegration records are fragmented
- the user thought WIA starts only when wages stop
That can create stress, gaps and preventable disputes at exactly the stage where clarity matters most.
Build the file before the pressure point
A serious WIA preparation file should normally contain:
- the first sick day
- the reintegration timeline
- correspondence with employer, arbodienst or UWV where relevant
- benefit-route documents if Ziektewet is involved
- records that help explain capacity and work history over time
The calmer and more complete that file is before the application window, the stronger the later process tends to be.
Common mistakes
- starting to think about WIA only when income continuation is almost over
- ignoring the week-88 preparation phase
- assuming you can choose WGA or IVA yourself
- treating special routes as if they apply automatically
- failing to keep the reintegration file together from the start
What to do now
- Confirm your first sick day and where you are in the long-term sickness timeline.
- Treat the week-88 phase as the start of formal WIA preparation.
- Keep reintegration and benefit documents in one file.
- Use work-capacity language and evidence rather than vague impressions.
- Read WGA and IVA as outcome categories, but wait for the formal assessment route.
- If you think a special route may apply, verify that on the live official page before relying on it.