If you do not have enough income or assets to live on, you may be entitled to social welfare, also known as social assistance benefit (bijstandsuitkering), which is a form of social security in the Netherlands. However, applying for the social assistance benefit may affect your right to stay in the Netherlands. Read on to find out more about this particular benefit.
Social assistance benefit: conditions
If you meet the following conditions, you may be entitled to general assistance in the Netherlands:
- You live in the Netherlands
- You are Dutch or you have a valid residence permit
- You are 18+ years of age
- You do not have enough income or assets to live on
- You are not eligible for any other form of assistance or benefit
- You are not in prison or a detention centre
Social assistance in case of low income
You are entitled to social assistance benefit if you do not have enough income or equity to live on. You are classed as having insufficient income if your (joint) income is lower than the social minimum that applies to you: this is known as the social assistance standard (bijstandsnorm). With social assistance, your municipality supplements your income up to the social assistance standard that applies to you. Please note that if you are married, cohabiting, or in a joint household, the joint income and assets of both you and your partner count.
The Bijstandsnorm in 2025 is as follows:
If your joint household income is less than this, then you may be eligible for social assistance.
Social assistance in case of little capital
To see if you are entitled to social assistance, the municipality also checks whether your financial assets do not exceed the legal limit for receiving social assistance, also known as the asset limit. For example, the government might check the value of your assets like:
- Savings
- Valuable possessions
The municipality makes a separate calculation for the value of your own home, so it is still possible to be entitled to social assistance if you own your own home. The form of assistance you get depends on the equity you have in your home.
If you have any debts, the municipality will deduct them from your assets with the condition that you can prove you have to repay them. They will not deduct debts you accrued as a student, like a student loan debt, or debts you are allowed to pay back later.
The asset limit for social assistance in 2025 is as follows:
Social assistance benefit and your residence permit
Applying for social assistance can affect your residence permit in certain cases. Please note that your municipality will report your application to the IND. The IND can revoke your residence permit if you apply for social assistance, depending on the type of residence permit you have.
An application for assistance has no consequences for people with:
- An asylum residence permit: definite or indefinite (verblijfsvergunning asiel)
- A regular residence permit: indefinite (verblijfsvergunning regulier voor onbepaalde tijd)
However, if you have a regular residence permit for a limited period (verblijfsvergunning regulier voor bepaalde tijd), the IND can withdraw or not renew your residence permit. They will take your personal situation in account, however: for instance the reason why you are applying for assistance, and how long you have been in the Netherlands.
How to apply for social assistance in the Netherlands
You can apply for social assistance at your municipality or via werk.nl. Please note that if you are entitled to social assistance benefit, you will receive it from the day you apply and not before, so make sure you submit your application in time. Generally, the municipality will make a decision within eight weeks of receiving your application.
What do you need to apply?
You will need the following to apply:
- A DigiD and an email address
- Three months' worth of bank statements
- The personal details of the members of your household
- Information about your income, savings and capital
Social assistance benefit: Obligations
As a recipient of social assistance, there are a number of obligations you must meet:
- Work: You must accept offered work and retain it.
- Reintegration: You must cooperate when it comes to your reintegration to get paid work as soon as possible.
- Compensation: You are obliged to provide compensation to the best of your ability if your municipality asks you to do so.
- Cooperation: You must cooperate with the municipality, i.e. submit to home visits and similar.
- Identification: You must be able to prove who you are with a valid ID, such as a passport, if the municipality asks you to do so.
- Information: You are required to provide the municipality with all information that may affect your right to social assistance.
- Language: You are expected to have sufficient command of the Dutch language. You must make an effort to improve if your language level is insufficient.
- Holiday: While receiving social assistance, you may stay abroad for a maximum of 28 days per calendar year, including weekends and public holidays. You will need to request this at your municipality.