After signing the rental agreement, register in the

Dutch population register (BRP)

Your contact from

VluchtelingenWerk Nederland (VWN)

If you still have no or insufficient income of your own from paid work, you are entitled to financial help from the government. This is called a benefit or 'bijstandsuitkering' (welfare benefit). This is an amount per month that the government gives you to live on. You use this to pay your rent, for example.

If you are entitled to a welfare benefit, you will get it from the day you apply for it at the municipality, not before. Make sure you apply on time. This will prevent you from receiving too little money.

Your contact from VWN or social worker from another organisation can support you in applying for benefits.

Most municipalities allow you to get a loan to furnish your first home. This is called a furnishing loan. The amount of the furnishing loan varies by municipality.

In many cases, this is a loan. This means that you will eventually have to pay back to the municipality the money you borrow for the furnishings. In some municipalities, you get the money and do not have to pay it back. Check with your contact person at the municipality how this is arranged in your municipality.

You have to sign certain contracts to live in your home. For example:

• A contract for electricity and gas

• A contract for water

• A contract for television and internet

• Household contents insurance

Your contact at VWN or social worker from another organisation can support you with this.

Make an appointment with your contact at the <Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) to let them know you are moving. Do this one day before your move.