Assistance, benefits

When am I entitled to assistance?

The municipality checks to see if you are entitled to assistance. An assistance benefit is not always paid in money. Sometimes you may be given food, clothing or housing, for example. The municipality can also give you assistance in the form of a loan. You must pay this back later.

Applying for assistance

You can apply for your social assistance benefit through werk.nl. You log in with your DigiD. If you do not have DigiD, call the Werkplein in your area.

Your application goes to the municipality. Then you will automatically receive notification of whether you will receive the benefit.

Note!

• Always report changes in your income or personal situation on time. This will prevent you from accidentally committing fraud.
• Are you not cooperating with your reintegration, misbehaving or committing fraud? Then the municipality can reduce or stop your benefit. You may have to repay your paid benefit to the municipality. You may also be fined.

Collective health insurance & contribution social and cultural activities

It is also possible to apply for a contribution collective health insurance and contribution social and cultural activities.

Request contributions here

What do I need?

• valid ID of you and your partner, if any
• proof of your income
• proof of your debts
• proof of your assets (assets, such as savings, car, house, stocks)
• proof of your employment history (your last employer and start and end dates of your contract)

Do you live with your partner and/or your children under the age of 18? If so, you will also need proof of their income, debts and employment history.

How long does it take?

You will be notified within 8 weeks whether you will receive the benefit. If the municipality requests additional supporting documents, this period may be extended.

Advance

You can get an advance payment within no more than 4 weeks if you do not have enough money to wait for the benefit to be transferred to you. The advance is at least 90% of the assistance benefit. You will continue to receive the advance until the municipality makes a decision.

• If you are awarded welfare benefits, the municipality will deduct the advance from your benefits.
• If you are not awarded the welfare benefit, you must repay the advance.

No advance payment

Are you under 27 and living alone? Or do you live with a partner who is also under 27? Then you will not receive an advance for the first 4 weeks. This is because you can only apply for assistance after 4 weeks.

The municipality may refuse to give you an advance if:

• it is already clear at the time of application that you are not entitled to welfare benefits
• you do not provide sufficient documentary evidence
• you provide the supporting documents late
• You are not cooperating adequately in the processing of your application

Objecting

Do you disagree with the municipality's decision? Then you can object within 6 weeks.

Terms

You can apply for benefits if you meet the following conditions:

• You are 18 years of age or older.
• You are a Dutch citizen or an equivalent. You are considered equal to a Dutch citizen if you come from an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. You are also assimilated if you have a valid residence permit or are otherwise residing lawfully in the Netherlands. For example, if you are taking legal action against a rejection of your residence permit.
• You live or reside in the Netherlands.
• You have no or insufficient income of your own.
• You have no equity or equity below the maximum amount. Consider savings or your own home.
• You cannot get another benefit. For example, unemployment benefits or disability benefits.
• You are not excluded from eligibility for welfare benefits. This is, for example, when you are in prison.

I am under 27 years of age

Are you under the age of 27? If so, you must first report for assistance. After reporting, you will look for work or training for 4 weeks. If this fails, you can apply for assistance benefits after this period.

Reintegration

In addition to being entitled to benefits, you may also be entitled to help finding gainful employment. We call this reintegration. You may also be entitled to reintegration if you do not receive welfare benefits. Do you need training, retraining or further guidance? Then this can be arranged for you. You usually have to accept the job you are offered. This work does not always have to match your knowledge and experience.