Allowance for removal costs

Under the following conditions you are entitled to a once-only allowance for removal costs:

·	at the moment of commencement of employment with the University of Twente you live outside the work location;

·	and you have an employment contract with a minimum of two years or it is certain that your employment will last at least another two years;

·	and you will come to live in the work location within a period of two years after you commence employment;

·	and as a result of your removal the daily commuting distance to the University of Twente is shortened by at least 50%.

The work location includes an area up to approximately 30 kilometres from the University of Twente. Here, Twente’s major cities are located: Enschede, Hengelo, Almelo and Oldenzaal. Most staff members of the University of Twente live in or around these places. Click here for more information on the work location.

The administrator of a faculty or service department may make different arrangements with TWAIOs and staff with a short-term employment.

Level of the allowance

The level of the removal allowance amounts to 12% of the gross annual salary including holiday allowance, up to a maximum of € 5,445. The salary to be taken into account is the salary applicable on the day of the removal. Any other allowances are not considered in calculating the removal allowance. The allowance includes costs of transport.

If you receive a removal and transport allowance in any other way for the same removal, the University of Twente will only pay an allowance in so far as the removal costs exceed this amount.

Removal of partners

There can be a situation in which you and your partner both enter into the employment of, or are already employed by the University of Twente and move to the work location. In such a case one full allowance is paid, calculated on the basis of the highest gross monthly salary.

Partner is understood to mean: the person with whom you are married or live together on a permanent basis (at least three months). The latter is to be demonstrated on request by submitting a proof of registration from the population register.

International removals

International removals often involve extra costs. For this reason the faculty or service department can decide to pay additional allowances. For example, costs of import duties due for luggage and household contents, costs of insurance of the household contents against damage and travelling costs in connection with the travel formalities. The allowances are limited to the costs directly related to the removal.

Application and payment allowance

You are to submit the application for a removal costs allowance, complete with date and signature, within two months after your removal to your faculty or service department. You receive the removal allowance via the salary administration of the University of Twente. This is necessary because the fiscal legislation prescribes that the allowance is included in the annual statement.

Repayment

If you resign or are dismissed briefly after the removal date, you are to pay back (part of) the removal allowance. However, this only applies in case you resign or if the dismissal is attributable to yourself. As you are employed over a longer period, the amount of the repayment decreases.

After two years the obligation to repay the amount will have expired. The faculty or service department itself can also decide to drop the obligation to repay the amount.

For more information you can refer to the UT RegulationRemoval costs allowance, accommodation outside the place of residence and commuter traffic.