Special wellfare

Special assistance is for things you truly need, but can't afford yourself. You can receive special assistance if you receive benefits or a minimum income. For example, you can apply for the replacement of your broken washing machine or refrigerator, or for administrator fees or legal fees. The municipality determines whether you qualify for special assistance. Each municipality has its own rules for this.

Anyone with a low income and few assets can apply for special assistance. This includes not only those receiving benefits, but also those earning the minimum wage or receiving a state pension (AOW). You can apply for special assistance if you have a low income. This income may not exceed the benefit (120% of the amounts below). Your permitted income depends on your age and personal circumstances. The following amounts show approximately how high your income can be.

• €1,363.06 – singles
• €1,752.49 – single parents
• €1,947.22 – married/cohabiting

These amounts are net per month, without holiday pay.

We assess each individual's eligibility for special assistance and the amount. Each municipality has its own rules for this. Therefore, it's often difficult to determine in advance whether you'll be eligible for special assistance. The main conditions are:

• You have a low income and little wealth.
• You have incurred necessary costs in a special situation. For example, you will not receive special assistance for normal costs, such as groceries and rent.
• You incurred the costs in the Netherlands.
• You cannot get the costs reimbursed from another scheme.

We'll assess your situation. We'll request some documents from you containing more information about the costs, review your bank statements, and sometimes schedule an appointment to visit you at home. Based on all this information, we'll determine whether you qualify for special assistance. If you're unsure, we always recommend submitting the application.

Special assistance is for everything you really need and cannot pay from your own income or your assets. What is really needed differs per person and per situation. That is why it is not possible to make a list containing everything for which you can apply for special assistance. It is also not possible to say in advance whether you will receive the special assistance you request. The legality consultant will look at this if you have submitted an application.

Below are some examples of things for which you can apply for special assistance. If you don't see what you need, if you receive benefits, please contact your eligibility consultant. Don't receive benefits? Then call the Work & Income call center at 013 – 542 89 79.

Examples for which you can apply for special assistance

Special assistance is not available for ordinary daily necessities such as food, clothing, debts, a passport, fines, or alimony. It also doesn't cover insurance or health insurance. These are costs you have to pay from your income or benefits.
Medical costs for which you cannot apply for special assistance are:

• glasses (lenses) and contact lenses
• alternative medicine
• medical cannabis
• diet preparations
• dietary advice
• medicines
• dental care (incl. orthodontics)
• hearing aids incl. batteries
• travel expenses for medical treatments
• psychotherapy
• physiotherapy and exercise therapy
• IVF treatments
• maternity costs
• day care
• body treatments
• medical devices and research
• home accommodation costs
• patient transport
• deductible health insurance
• mental health care
• pedicure and manicure

Please note: this list is subject to change.

healthcare costs
You cannot apply for special assistance for costs not covered by your health insurance. You can take out supplementary insurance for this. For residents with a low income, there is a collective health insurance policy from CZ or VGZ. This means you are well-insured with a discount. In addition to the discount everyone receives, the municipality also pays a portion of the premium. Participating means paying less for more care! For more information, visit the website of the municipality of Tilburg. BIf you're unsure, it's best to simply submit an application. The municipality will assess your need and determine whether you're eligible.

You can apply for special assistance digitally or in writing. To apply for special assistance digitally, you need a DigiD. At the end of the application form, you'll see which supporting documents you need to submit. This may vary per application and per person. In any case, make sure you have the following documents (digitally) at hand when you fill out the form:

• Bank statements
• evidence of the requested costs
• proof of your income and assets if you do not receive social assistance benefits.

We may need more information than the information above for the assessment. If necessary, you will receive a message later. You can also send the documents later to your contact person at Work and Income, either digitally or by mail. Tip: make sure the photos/screenshots of the documents are clearly legible.

We ask about the income and assets of yourself, your partner, and any children aged 18 living at home. Did you recently provide this information for social assistance benefits or another application for special assistance? Then you don't need to provide it again. Do you have a partner? Then you must apply for special assistance together. Your partner must also log in with their DigiD.

Applying for special assistance digitally >

Apply by mail

You can also print, complete and send a paper application.

Download the Special Assistance Application Form

The municipality will process your application within 8 weeks. This period only starts once we have received all supporting documents.

Are you receiving special assistance? Then we'll transfer the money to your account. Sometimes we pay the amount directly to the company where you bought or ordered the product.

Volunteers from Home Administration are happy to help you apply for special assistance. Come to the office without an appointment. consultation hours in one of the community centers near youDon't forget to bring your DigiD, mobile phone, and any documents required for the application.

There are more organizations that can help you. View the social map of the municipality of TilburgAll help is free and you will usually receive help quickly.

Have you been told that you won't receive special assistance for medical expenses, for example? And are you experiencing difficulties because your health insurance doesn't cover them and you have insufficient income? Then you may be eligible for compensation through the Tilburg Support Fund (TOF).

The TOF is available to residents of the municipality of Tilburg who are experiencing financial difficulties due to unexpected but necessary expenses. This can lead to them living below the poverty line or at risk of falling below it. This can be due to new legislation, unexpected events, or the difficulty of finding work.

More about Tilburg Support Fund – ContourdeTwern.

How do you request assistance through the TOF?

• Do you have a healthcare provider? Ask them to submit an application for you.
• Don't have a care provider?
  • Call the Advice Point on 013 549 86 46
  • Or email adviespunt@contourdetwern.nl
• You can also contact your contact person at the municipality of Tilburg.
• If you do not have a contact person, please call the Work & Income call center on 013 – 542 89 79.

If your application was rejected and you disagree, you can file an objection within six weeks. You can do this digitally via the municipality's website.
Please note: you must log in with your DigiD.

Fill in the objection form >

Don't receive benefits or an IOAW benefit? Then the municipality will assess your ability to pay. This is the portion of your income and savings that you are legally required to use to pay special expenses. We consider:

• Your income
• Your assets (such as savings or assets)

Are the costs for which you are applying for special assistance higher than your capacity to pay?
Then you might be eligible for special assistance after all.

We generally provide special assistance in the form of a grant. This means you don't have to repay the amount to us. Sometimes it's a loan, in which case you will ultimately have to repay the amount. A loan may be involved if:

• The application could have been avoided. For example, you had money to buy a refrigerator, but you used it for something else. Something you didn't really need.
• You need special assistance due to your own fault. For example, if you caused your refrigerator to break down.
• you eventually get the money back from another source, such as a security deposit.

For durable consumer goods (such as white goods), we consider depreciation periods. For example, we assume a new refrigerator will last 10 years. If the refrigerator breaks down much sooner, you may be eligible for a loan. Please note: make sure you don't dispose of broken items before we've been able to assess your application. Otherwise, you may not receive any special assistance at all.

Sometimes you receive special assistance not just once, but monthly, for example, for a year. This happens, for example, with your personal contribution to the CAK (Central Administration Office).

After that year, we'll check whether you're still eligible for special assistance. This is called a reassessment. We'll check if anything has changed in your situation. You'll then receive further questions from us. Sometimes we'll also request information from you or your administrator.

Has everything remained the same and is in order? Then you will receive special assistance again the following year.

Do you want to know if you are entitled to assistance from the municipality of Tilburg, such as special assistance? Then go to the the website Calculate your right >.

On this website you can enter your details and make a calculation yourself.
This will quickly give you an idea of what you may be entitled to.