Special wellfare

Special assistance is for things you truly need but can't afford yourself. For example, replacing your broken washing machine, legal fees, or your children's school costs. The municipality determines whether you qualify for special assistance.

Anyone with a low income and few assets can apply for special assistance. This includes benefits, but also those earning the minimum wage or receiving a state pension (AOW). The maximum income depends on your age and personal circumstances. These amounts provide a rough guide to the maximum income:

• €1,491.64 for single people
• €1,917.81 for single parents
• €2,130.90 for married couples/cohabitants

These are net amounts per month, excluding holiday pay.

Your assets - for example car or savings - may not be higher than

• €7,575 for single people
• €15,150 for single parents, married couples/cohabitants

The municipality assesses each individual's eligibility for special assistance and the amount. Each municipality has its own rules, so it's difficult to predict whether you'll receive assistance. The main conditions are:

• You have a low income and little savings or assets
• You have incurred necessary expenses in an exceptional situation (not for normal expenses such as groceries or rent)
• You incurred the costs in the Netherlands
• You cannot get the costs reimbursed through another scheme

How does the municipality assess your application?

We look at your personal situation. We do this by:

• Request evidence of the costs
• View your bank statements
• Sometimes it is necessary to make an appointment for us to visit you at home

Based on this information, we determine whether you receive special assistance.

Special assistance is municipal assistance for expenses you truly need but cannot afford yourself. What someone truly needs varies by individual and situation. Therefore, there is no fixed list of expenses for which you can receive special assistance. You will only know if you are eligible for special assistance after you have submitted an application. A municipal employee (eligibility consultant) will assess your situation.

Below are some examples. Don't see what you need?

• If you receive benefits, please contact your eligibility consultant.
• Don't receive benefits? Then call the Employment & Income department.

Examples for which you can apply for special assistance

You cannot receive special assistance for ordinary, everyday expenses. For example:

• Food and clothing
• A passport
• Fines or alimony
• Insurance (such as health insurance)
• Outstanding invoices at the Tax Authorities

You must pay these costs yourself from your income or benefits.

Medical expenses for which no special assistance it is possible:

• Glasses and contact lenses
• Alternative medicine
• Medical cannabis
• Dietary preparations and dietary advice
• Medicines
• Dentist and orthodontics
• Hearing aids and batteries
• Travel costs for medical treatments
• Psychotherapy
• Physiotherapy and exercise therapy
• IVF treatments
• Delivery costs
• Daycare
• Body treatments
• Medical devices and examinations
• Costs of living in a home
• patient transport
• Deductible of the health insurance
• Mental healthcare
• Pedicure and manicure

Please note: this list is subject to change.

Healthcare costs and insurance

If your health insurance doesn't cover certain healthcare costs, you can't apply for special assistance for them.

What can you do?
Take out supplementary insurance. Do you have a low income? Then you can participate in the Collective health insurance from CZ or VGZYou will then receive a discount and the municipality will pay part of the premium.

Apply for special assistance before you incur costs yourself

If you have already paid the costs, the municipality cannot properly assess whether it was really necessary.

Apply digitally with DigiD

You can apply for special assistance online using your DigiD. Do you have a partner? Then you must apply together. Your partner must also log in with DigiD.

What do you need for the application?

Please keep these details at hand:

• Information about the income and savings of you, your partner and children living at home aged 18 or older

If you've already provided this information for a social assistance benefit or previous application, you don't need to do it again.

Which documents do you need to send?

At the end of the online form you will see which documents are required.
Please send them immediately so we can process your application more quickly.

Examples of documents

• Pay slips or benefit specifications
• Price quotes
• Bank statements
• Health insurance policy
• Information about benefits or provisional refunds from the Tax Authorities

Tip: Take clear photos of the documents and prepare them for uploading in advance.

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.

Didn't receive special assistance for medical expenses? And are you experiencing difficulties because your health insurance doesn't cover the costs and you have insufficient income? Then you may be eligible for assistance through the Tilburg Support Fund (TOF).

What is the TOF?

The TOF is available to residents of the municipality of Tilburg who are experiencing financial difficulties due to unexpected, necessary expenses. This can lead to living below or even falling below the poverty line. Causes include:

• New rules or laws
• Unexpected events
• Difficulty 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 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.

In many cases, you don't have to repay the money. Sometimes it's a loan, in which case you do have to repay the money. This happens, for example, if:

• You had money of your own, but you spent it on something you didn't need.
• You caused the costs yourself, for example if your refrigerator broke down due to your own fault.
• You will receive the money back later from another organization, such as a security deposit.

Special assistance for household items (such as furniture or white goods)

You usually get a loan for these items. You only receive a gift if:

• You have had a low income (social assistance level) for more than 3 years and can prove this.
• You are in a debt relief process or in statutory debt restructuring. More about debt > 
• You have already used your money for other necessary expenses (you must be able to prove this).

Please note: We assume a lifespan for items. For example, a refrigerator lasts 10 years. If your refrigerator breaks down sooner, you may be eligible for a loan. Do not throw away broken items before we have assessed your application. Otherwise, you may not be eligible for special assistance.

These exceptions do not apply if you need special assistance through your own fault.

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.