Algemene Ouderdoms Wet
Encyclopedia
The Algemene Ouderdoms Wet (general seniority law) is a 1956 Dutch
law that installed a state pension, guaranteed for all. This law was a continuation of a 1947 temporary law. The old law was a proposal by Willem Drees
and the new one came about when he was prime minister
. It is the one thing he is remembered for most and his name is immortalised in the expression 'van Drees trekken' (literally 'pulling from Drees' after the Dutch word 'steuntrekken' for receiving social security).
The law provides a pension from one's 65th (proposed: 67th) birthday for everyone who has lived in the Netherlands between his 15th (proposed: 17th) and 65th (proposed: 67th) birthday. For those who have not lived in the Netherlands the full 50 years the amount is proportional. If a pensioner
has a common household
with someone else (for example in the case of marriage
or cohabitation
), whether also a pensioner or not, the monthly amount is lower than if he or she lives alone.
The proposed increase of the minimum age by two years would take place in two steps, effective in 2020 and 2025: as a transitional measure those born before 1955 would not be affected, and for those born in the period 1955 - 1959 the minimum age would be 66.
The amendments to the AOW triggered a series of demonstrations in November 2009 at the Malieveld in The Hague
.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
law that installed a state pension, guaranteed for all. This law was a continuation of a 1947 temporary law. The old law was a proposal by Willem Drees
Willem Drees
Willem Drees was a Dutch politician of the Labour Party . He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from August 7, 1948 until December 22, 1958....
and the new one came about when he was prime minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
. It is the one thing he is remembered for most and his name is immortalised in the expression 'van Drees trekken' (literally 'pulling from Drees' after the Dutch word 'steuntrekken' for receiving social security).
The law provides a pension from one's 65th (proposed: 67th) birthday for everyone who has lived in the Netherlands between his 15th (proposed: 17th) and 65th (proposed: 67th) birthday. For those who have not lived in the Netherlands the full 50 years the amount is proportional. If a pensioner
Pensioner
In common parlance, a pensioner is a person who has retired, and now collects a pension. This is a term typically used in the United Kingdom and Australia where someone of pensionable age may also be referred to as an 'old age pensioner', or OAP. In the United States, the term retiree is more...
has a common household
Household
The household is "the basic residential unit in which economic production, consumption, inheritance, child rearing, and shelter are organized and carried out"; [the household] "may or may not be synonymous with family"....
with someone else (for example in the case of marriage
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
or cohabitation
Cohabitation
Cohabitation usually refers to an arrangement whereby two people decide to live together on a long-term or permanent basis in an emotionally and/or sexually intimate relationship. The term is most frequently applied to couples who are not married...
), whether also a pensioner or not, the monthly amount is lower than if he or she lives alone.
The proposed increase of the minimum age by two years would take place in two steps, effective in 2020 and 2025: as a transitional measure those born before 1955 would not be affected, and for those born in the period 1955 - 1959 the minimum age would be 66.
The amendments to the AOW triggered a series of demonstrations in November 2009 at the Malieveld in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
.