What financial assistance can you apply for from the municipality?

If you have no income, or not enough income to live on, you may be able to claim welfare benefit. Welfare benefit is intended to cover essential expenses, such as rent, food, clothing and health insurance.

The municipality will take your income, savings and housing situation into account. If you live with a partner, the municipality will usually also take your partner’s income and savings into account.

There are certain conditions that apply to welfare benefits. Find out more about when you are entitled to welfare benefits and how to apply for them.

Sometimes you may have additional costs that you are unable to cover yourself. In that case, you may be able to apply for special welfare. Special welfare is money provided by the municipality to cover essential costs. These are costs you incur as a result of a special circumstance. Examples include additional healthcare costs or travel expenses due to illness. The municipality decides whether you are entitled to special welfare. It will assess your personal circumstances, your income and your savings. You may be eligible for special welfare if:

• You are live legally in the Netherlands.

• You are 18 years of age or older.

• You do not have enough income or savings to cover the costs yourself.

• The costs are necessary or unexpected.

• You are not reimbursed for the costs in any other way.

Sometimes you may receive special welfare as a grant. In that case, you do not have to pay the money back. Sometimes you may receive it as a loan. In that case, you will have to pay it back later. Ask your municipality which rules apply to you.

Do you have children and a low income? If so, you may sometimes be able to get extra help from your municipality. Many municipalities have schemes for families with children up to the age of 18. For example, a

This scheme enables your child to take part in school, sport and other activities. The support may, for example, be for clothing or swimming lessons.

Sometimes the municipality works in partnership with organisations. The support may, for example, be in the form of school supplies, a bicycle, swimming lessons, clothing, a birthday party or a day out.

If you have been on a low income for a long time, you may be eligible for an individual income supplement.

This is an additional payment from the municipality. You can usually receive this payment once a year. You are often free to decide how to spend the money.

You apply for the individual income supplement from your municipality. The municipality will decide whether you are entitled to it. You may be eligible for the individual income supplement if:

• You are over 21 years of age.

• You are not yet receiving your state pension.

• You have little or no income or savings.

• You have little chance of increasing your income any time soon.

If you are a student and are unable to work alongside your studies due to medical problems, you may be eligible for a study allowance from the municipality.

The study allowance is intended for students who, due to their limitations, are unable to hold a part-time job. The allowance is an additional sum on top of your

The amount of the study allowance depends on your age. The amounts may change every six months.

If you are doing an internship and receive an allowance for it, you may still be able to keep part of your student allowance.

In some municipalities, you can join a group health insurance scheme. This is sometimes called a municipal policy. This insurance is intended for people on low incomes. You may be eligible for a discount on the premium. In some cases, the municipality also contributes towards the cost.

Some municipalities also have a participation scheme for adults. Under this scheme, you can, for example, receive a discount or a cash payment towards sport, culture, activities or a course.

Not every municipality uses the same name. Sometimes it is also referred to as a participation scheme, city pass, mini-pass or adult fund.

Some municipalities help residents with the cost of public transport. This varies from one municipality to another. In some municipalities, older people on low incomes can travel for free by bus, tram or metro. Sometimes, free public transport is also available for children, students or people with disabilities.

Do you have a disability and find it difficult to travel on standard public transport? If so, you may be able to get help through the

Some municipalities offer extra support with energy costs. For example, an energy coach, an energy box, energy bills or help with insulation.

An energy coach can give you tips on how to use less energy. An energy box often contains small items, such as LED bulbs or draught excluders.

Sometimes you have to pay municipal taxes. For example, waste collection charges or sewerage charges. If you are on a low income and have little in the way of savings, you may be able to get an exemption. This means you will not have to pay the tax at all, or only part of it.

You can apply for a tax waiver from your municipality or from the organisation responsible for collecting municipal taxes.

Read more here about what you can do if you are unable to pay your municipal taxes.

Do you need financial assistance? If so, please contact your municipality as soon as possible. Do not wait too long to ask for help. The sooner you ask for help, the greater the chance that your problems will not get any worse.

The rules vary from one municipality to another. You should therefore always check with your municipality to find out what support is available to you.