Quarter of freelancers not insured against disability

27 percent of freelancers and self-employed in the Netherlands do not have sufficent financial resources or insurance to provide an income for themselves should they be unable to work due to disability, according to a report published by the Central Planning Bureau (CPB) on Monday, ANP reports.

Just over half of self-employed and freelancers have sufficient possibilities to get a replacement income on the level of a disability benefit. One in 20 have no posibilities of providing a mininum income and will likely have to depend on welfare should they be unable to work.

On the other hand, most self-employed have sufficient alternitaves to provide a minimum disability income until they reitre. 24 percent can rely on private insurance, 27 percent on the income of a partner and 16 percent can rely on their own savings. 

The CPB thinks that a mandatory disability insurance can be considered. Though the researchers point out that such mandatory insurance has both advantages and disadvantages.