Players/Cyclists contribute a portion of their gross earnings to CFK throughout their professional career in the Netherlands. These contributions are used to build up a personal fund. When their procareer ends they receive monthly benefit payments from their individual fund. The amount and duration of the benefits depends on the individual fund balance.
FAQ
Antwoord:
Antwoord:
Many people think professional football players don’t need to work after their active football career ends. That may be true for a handful of players/cyclists, but the large majority of them have to find a new career.
It’s often not easy for them to find a job, since many have had no education beyond secondary school. So they have to catch up on their lack of qualifications. And when they do find work, they often have to start at the bottom of the ladder. That means a modest salary, while their costs have continued at the same level as before the abrupt end of their active professional career.
The bridging scheme gives football players and cyclists a temporary basic income to bridge the gap until they settle in a new career. They can use their period on benefits to gain work experience, continue their education or set up in business.
Antwoord:
Yes, the bridging scheme is compulsory for all professional players who are under contract to a Dutch club of cycling team. Dispensation is sometimes obtainable. For the conditions under which dispensation may be granted please contact CFK.
Antwoord:
Contributions are deducted from gross income, which means they are free of tax and social insurance premiums. Members pay tax and social insurance on the bridging benefits they receive later as income. CFK deducts these levies at source from each monthly payment. The balance held in a bridging fund is not considered a capital in Box III (income tax). Participants receiving a payment receive an annual statement of their fund balance at the end of each calendar year.
Antwoord:
Players pay a percentage of their professional earnings into the bridging scheme each month. The size of these contributions depends on their income. Contribution levels are based on the fund contributio table.
Antwoord:
By the end of the active football career the player has built up a balance in a personal CFK bridging fund, including a return on investment added each year. The bridging scheme will then be paid out in monthly instalments. Subject to certain limits members can opt to receive benefits over a shorter or longer period, based on the following table. The CFK seeks to increase the benefit levels yearly.
Antwoord:
No, benefits are not guaranteed. But thanks to a defensive investment policy and the way benefit levels are set, there’s a very strong likelihood they will simply continue to the end of the defined period. Whenever possible, benefit levels go up annually.
Antwoord:
If a participant passes away the right to benefit payments passes to the partner. The partner will then receive the entire bridging fund to which the participant was entitled. If the participant has no partner but does have children, the fund is paid out as a lump sum to the children. If the participant has no partner and no children, the individual balance reverts to the other participants of the fund.