Mantelzorgverlof aanvragen: hoe werkt het?

When a parent suddenly needs help, many people wonder if they can take temporary time off from work. In the Netherlands, there is a scheme for this: informal care leave, also known as care leave.

In this article, we explain:

welke soorten zorgverlof er zijn
when you can apply for caregiver leave
how long the leave lasts
and what you need to take into account

Also read our detailed explanation on applying for informal care leave: solution or emergency measure.

Short-term care leave

Kortdurend zorgverlof is bedoeld voor situaties waarin een naaste tijdelijk hulp nodig heeft.

This could involve, for example:

a parent recovering after a hospital stay
een partner die ziek is
a child who needs care

How long does short-term care leave last?

Je kunt per jaar maximaal twee keer het aantal werkuren per week opnemen.

Werk je bijvoorbeeld 40 uur per week, dan kun je maximaal 80 uur zorgverlof opnemen.

Tijdens dit verlof ontvang je meestal 70% van je salaris.

Langdurend zorgverlof

When a loved one requires care for an extended period, long-term care leave can be applied for.

This leave is intended for situations in which:

a parent is seriously ill
someone needs long-term support
informal care becomes structurally necessary

How long does long-term care leave last?

Je kunt maximaal zes keer het aantal werkuren per week opnemen.

With a 40-hour work week, that means a maximum of 240 hours per year.

Long-term care leave is usually unpaid.

Emergency leave

Sometimes an unexpected situation arises in which immediate help is needed.

Bijvoorbeeld wanneer:

a parent suddenly falls ill
an accident happens
immediate help is needed

In dat geval kan een werknemer calamiteitenverlof opnemen.

This leave is usually short-term and fully paid.

When do people apply for informal care leave?

Many people apply for informal care leave when:

a parent suddenly needs more help
someone is temporarily unable to function independently
medical appointments or practical support are needed

This often happens out of commitment and responsibility.

However, in practice, it turns out that informal care sometimes requires more time and energy than expected.

Lees daarom ook
Wanneer mantelzorgverlof niet genoeg is.

What if the care takes longer?

Mantelzorgverlof kan helpen om een tijdelijke periode te overbruggen. Maar wanneer de zorg langdurig nodig blijft, zoeken veel families naar andere oplossingen.

Bijvoorbeeld door: