AIO Explained: Topping Up a Low AOW Pension in the Netherlands

If your AOW pension is lower than you expected, the reason is often straightforward: every year you spent living or working outside the Netherlands reduces your AOW by 2%. Spend ten years abroad and you receive 80% of the full amount. Spend twenty years abroad and it drops to 60%. For many people who came to the Netherlands later in life, or who lived abroad for extended periods, this adds up to a meaningful shortfall. 💚

The AIO supplement exists to address exactly this. It tops up your income to the Dutch guaranteed minimum, regardless of how incomplete your AOW record is. This guide explains what the AIO is, who qualifies, and how to apply.

1. What the AIO is

AIO stands for Aanvullende Inkomensvoorziening Ouderen, which translates as Supplementary Income Provision for the Elderly. It is administered by the SVB (Sociale Verzekeringsbank), the same organisation that pays your AOW pension.

The AIO is not a pension in its own right. It is a means-tested top-up that brings your combined income (AOW plus any other income) up to the Dutch guaranteed minimum income level. You receive it on top of your AOW, paid together in the same monthly transfer.

Unlike AOW, which is based on your years of insurance in the Netherlands, the AIO is based on what you currently receive and what you currently have in savings. If your income falls below the minimum threshold and your assets are below the limit, the SVB makes up the difference.

2. Who typically needs it

The AIO is most relevant for three groups of people:

People who lived abroad before coming to the Netherlands. Each year outside the Dutch AOW insurance system means a 2% reduction in your eventual AOW. Someone who moved to the Netherlands at 45 and worked here until AOW age would have roughly a 44% reduction, leaving them with just over half the full AOW amount.

Expats and returnees with gaps in their record. People who left the Netherlands during their working years and returned later may have gaps in their AOW insurance that were not filled by voluntary contributions.

People with very little other income. If your AOW is already low and you have no occupational pension or savings above the asset limit, the AIO can bring your income up to a liveable level.

💡 Tip: The SVB estimates that around 76,000 people in the Netherlands were receiving the AIO supplement as of early 2026. If your AOW is incomplete, it is worth checking whether you qualify before assuming your income is fixed.

3. What you can receive (2026 amounts)

The AIO tops your income up to the guaranteed minimum. The maximum amounts you can receive (net, including holiday allowance) from January 2026 are:

• Single, living alone: €1,564.69 per month
• With a partner (combined total): €2,144.16 per month
• Your share if your partner does not receive AIO: €1,072.08 per month
• In a nursing home (alone): €490.76 per month

These are maximum figures. The amount you actually receive is the difference between the applicable minimum and your current income. If your AOW alone is €900 per month and you live alone, the AIO would top you up to €1,564.69, meaning you receive around €664 per month in AIO supplement.

The holiday allowance portion is paid in May, alongside the AOW holiday allowance.

4. What counts as income and assets

Income that is taken into account:

• Your AOW pension
• Other pensions from the Netherlands or abroad
• Benefits from the Netherlands or abroad
• Rental income
• Work income (though 25% of what you earn is disregarded, up to a maximum of €285 per month)

Rent benefit and healthcare benefit are not counted as income for AIO purposes.

Assets that are taken into account:

• Savings and investments
• Jewellery, antiques, and works of art
• Cars and other vehicles

Household items such as furniture, appliances, and televisions are not counted as assets.

Asset limits:

• Single: no more than €8,000 in assets
• With a partner or a child under 18: no more than €16,000 in assets

If you have debts, these are deducted from your assets before the limit is applied.

Simple action: If your savings are above the threshold but not by much, it may be worth checking with the SVB whether your situation qualifies. Owning your own home does not automatically disqualify you. In some cases, the AIO can be provided as an interest-free loan secured against the property.

5. Eligibility conditions

To qualify for the AIO, you must:

• Have reached AOW pension age (currently 67 in the Netherlands)
• Live in the Netherlands
• Have a net monthly income below the applicable guaranteed minimum
• Have assets below the relevant limit (€8,000 or €16,000)

The SVB looks at both you and your partner's income and assets if you live together.

If you have made a gift of money or property within the period before your AIO claim, the SVB may take this into account. Gifts above €1,200 per year must be reported.

6. How to apply

Start with the AIO check on the SVB website at svb.nl/en/aio-supplement/do-the-aio-check. This takes a few minutes and helps you work out whether an application is worth making before you commit to the full process.

If the check suggests you may qualify, you can apply directly through the SVB. You will need to provide details of your income, assets, and living situation. The SVB will assess your claim and let you know the outcome.

You can also contact the SVB by phone or visit a local SVB office. Contact details are at svb.nl/en/aio-supplement/contact.

If your AOW is lower than expected, the AIO is one of the more practical ways to bring your retirement income up to a stable level. It is worth a check even if you are not sure you qualify. 💛

For more on the AOW itself and how to bridge the gap before you reach pension age, see our guide to the AOW bridge. If you are based in the UK and looking for the equivalent means-tested top-up, our guide to Pension Credit covers how that works. Browse more Una guides for plain English help with pensions and retirement planning.