Life will be made easier for low-income residents of the Netherlands

Due to inconsistencies in a number of government regulations, households in which one partner works at a low wage and the other receives benefits are entitled to less government assistance than those households in which both partners live on benefits. We are talking about less funding for rent and health insurance. As a result, such households find themselves below the poverty line, and there are already 6400 of them. 

Fundamental changes will occur from 2028, when new income tax rules come into force. Realizing that this deadline still needs to be reached, the Dutch government, together with municipalities, the Employees' Insurance Agency (Uitvoeringsinstituut Werknemersverzekeringen - UWV), tax and social authorities, has developed a transition scheme for the period 2025-2027. 89 million euros have been reserved for the implementation of the scheme: from these funds, municipalities can already provide individual special assistance, and from 2025 such assistance will be assigned automatically. 

If you think you are entitled to this assistance but have not received it automatically, you will need to contact the municipality in person. Amounts received as individual special assistance are not counted as income; accordingly, they do not affect the recipient’s right to receive various benefits and allowances. The exact amount that poor households will receive from 2025 has not yet been established; the government will announce it later. 

Social assistance in the Netherlands can have a significant impact on the standard of living of its recipients. Check to see if you are already receiving all the benefits you are entitled to! If not, order the required subsidies on the same page.