Public assistance: income, assets, home ownership

Your local government will also check whether your financial assets exceed the limit set by the social assistance program. If your assets exceed this limit, you are not eligible for social assistance.

An example of assets is savings. The municipality calculates your assets based on your and your family’s bank records, and also takes into account any valuable possessions, with the exception of your own home. Do you have debts? If so, the municipality will deduct those debts from your assets, thereby reducing your total assets. However, this is conditional on your ability to prove that you are required to repay those debts. This does not apply to student loans or debts that you are permitted to repay at a later date, such as debts owed to family members.

Do you have more assets than the maximum allowed to still qualify for public assistance (the legal limit)? If so, you can use those assets to support yourself. You are not eligible for public assistance until you have used the assets that exceed the limit for that purpose. The maximum amount of assets you are allowed to have depends on your living situation.
 

Owning a home does not disqualify you from receiving social assistance. Your home is considered part of your assets. Your municipality will assess the value of your home through a separate means test, taking into account the equity in your home. This is the current value of your home minus the outstanding mortgage balance. 

In addition, the value of a second home or vacation home (in the Netherlands or abroad) is also taken into account when determining your net worth.

Learn more about eligibility for public assistance if you own a home.

Many people feel guilty or ashamed when they can’t pay their bills (on time) or are in debt. But did you know that this happens much more often than you might think? Anyone can find themselves in financial trouble. Setbacks such as unemployment, illness, or divorce can put people in a difficult situation.

Are you worried about your financial situation? Having trouble paying all your bills on time? The first step is to seek help. For example, you can contact the organization that sent you the bill. You may be able to work out a payment plan.

For information and questions about finances and debts, you can contact VraagWijzer West Maas en Waal. For help with managing your finances, you can also contact Welfare Organization Sociom.