Sick as a freelancer without disability insurance: what are your options?
Written by Ilias Aarrass7 min read · Published on · Last reviewed on 
In short
Without your own arrangement there is no continued pay and no statutory sick pay for the self-employed; if you come from employment or benefits you can still insure voluntarily with UWV within 13 weeks.
- The 13-week deadline after your job or benefit ends is strict: after it you can no longer join the UWV scheme.
- A bread fund usually pays out for at most two years through tax-free gifts and therefore does not cover permanent incapacity.
- Under the bill for basic disability insurance for the self-employed you pay 5.4 per cent of profit, at most roughly € 171 gross a month, with a two-year waiting period.
- With prolonged illness you usually miss the 1,225-hour criterion, so you lose your self-employed deduction on top of your income.
It is the least fun topic of entrepreneurship, and precisely why many freelancers keep postponing it: what happens if you fall ill? The honest answer: without your own arrangement, almost nothing. There is no continued pay and no sickness benefit for the self-employed; only with long-term incapacity and an income below the social minimum might you end up on social assistance. Full disability insurance is the best cover for many freelancers, but not everyone can or wants to pay the premium. This article sets out the alternatives and additions.
The bread fund: saving together for sickness
A bread fund is a group of a few dozen entrepreneurs who set money aside monthly in their own bread fund account. If a participant falls ill, the others gift that participant a monthly amount, usually for up to two years. The gifts are tax-free and your monthly contribution remains yours: if you leave, you take most of the accrued balance with you. The strength lies in the small scale and mutual trust; so does the limitation, because the payout is capped and stops after those two years. A bread fund is therefore mainly a solution for the first years of illness, not for permanent incapacity.
Voluntary insurance with the UWV
If you come from employment or benefits, you can voluntarily insure yourself with the UWV for sickness and long-term disability within thirteen weeks after it ends. The big advantage: the UWV has no medical examination, whereas private insurers can refuse or exclude you based on medical history. The premium depends on the income you insure. The thirteen-week deadline is hard: miss it and you cannot join later. If you are about to start freelancing from a job, put this at the top of your list, even if you are still unsure; you can always cancel later.
Your own buffer: the foundation under everything
Whichever route you choose, a financial buffer remains the foundation. Bread funds usually only pay out after a deductible period of a month, and with disability insurance you often choose a waiting period to lower the premium. You bridge that first period yourself. A buffer of three to six months of fixed costs brings peace of mind and also makes a longer waiting period affordable, which can substantially reduce the premium. Set aside a fixed amount monthly, in an account you do not use for day-to-day business.
What your buffer is not: a full alternative to insurance. Bridging a few months is feasible; years of incapacity cannot be financed out of pocket. See the buffer as the foundation on which a bread fund, UWV insurance or disability insurance is built.
Mandatory disability insurance is coming
A bill is on the table for a mandatory basic disability insurance for the self-employed, the BAZ. Under the bill, freelancers pay a premium of 5.4 per cent of their profit, capped at roughly 171 euros gross per month. The benefit is 70 per cent of your pre-disability income, with the minimum wage as a ceiling, and only starts after a two-year waiting period. Those with equivalent or better private disability insurance could satisfy the obligation that way. The intended introduction is still years away and details may change, so do not wait for it: if you fall ill today, a future law does nothing for you. See it rather as a reason to sort out your current cover now.
How to weigh it up
Start with the question of how many months you can bridge without income and what needs to happen after that. For the short term, a buffer and a bread fund are a strong combination; for the real risk, years-long or permanent incapacity, disability insurance or the voluntary UWV insurance remains the only serious cover. Bear in mind that disability insurance premiums are deductible for income tax, making the net cost considerably lower than the gross premium. Also review your other business insurance so you are not covered twice. And whatever choice you make: make it consciously, and do not leave it on the 'someday' pile.
What you can arrange today
A sick freelancer's safety net is self-built, from several layers. Not every layer has to be insurance.
| Layer | Covers |
|---|---|
| Financial buffer | The first weeks to months |
| Bread fund or giving circle | Up to roughly two years, through monthly donations |
| Disability insurance with a long waiting period | Long-term incapacity, at a lower premium |
| Voluntary insurance with the benefits agency | Only available within 13 weeks after employment |
| Social assistance (final net) | Only once income and assets are gone |
Frequently asked questions
What happens to my income if I fall ill without cover?
Nothing replaces it: no continued pay, no benefit. You draw down your buffer and then your assets. Only once those are gone does social assistance come into view.
What exactly is a bread fund?
A group of some twenty to fifty entrepreneurs who contribute monthly and make donations to sick members, usually for up to two years. It runs on trust and has no medical assessment.
How large should my buffer be?
At least three to six months of fixed costs, private and business combined. Pairing it with a long-waiting-period policy means the buffer must bridge that period. See building a buffer.
Can I still insure with the benefits agency?
Only within 13 weeks after your employment or benefit ended. Within that window no assessment is needed; afterwards it is closed. Just started from a job? Decide quickly.
Is mandatory insurance not simply on its way?
The bill is before parliament, but according to the government it will take at least several more years before the insurance exists. Waiting for it means years without cover. See disability insurance.
Does my self-employed deduction continue while ill?
Only if you still reach the 1,225-hour criterion that year. With prolonged illness you usually do not, and the deduction lapses on top of the lost income. Your fixed costs and returns continue regardless.
Sources
- Voluntary sickness and disability insurance for the self-employedUWV · uwv.nl
- Plans for mandatory basic disability insuranceRijksoverheid · rijksoverheid.nl
Sources checked on
This article provides general information based on the rules known for 2026 and does not replace personal tax advice. For your specific situation, we're happy to take a look with you.
