Social Benefits for Netherlands Residents (Dutch Residents) - Dakotta.nl

The Netherlands Benefits

The Kingdom of the Netherlands offers a variety of financial benefits and contributions to its residents and citizens. Many of these benefits are intended to assist low-income individuals in covering essential living expenses such as rent, health insurance, raising children, and childcare. The following is a summary of the many benefit programs. Your unique circumstances determine the amount and availability of each benefit.

Learn more about what qualities for low-income in the Netherlands (here).

List of Netherlands Resident Benefits

Childcare

Health

Housing

Financial

Childcare Allowance (kinderopvangtoeslag)

Details about the benefit:

Parents working (or studying) in the Netherlands are entitled to the childcare allowance (kinderopvangtoeslag) for children under 12.
This is a contribution to the cost of childcare, whether for a childcare center, afterschool care, or a private childminder (gastouder). The allowance can reduce childcare costs up to a maximum of 94%, depending on income and number of children.

Who qualifies for the benefit:

Almost all parents who are registered in the Netherlands – and hold a BSN (BurgerServiceNummer) – are entitled to the Childcare Allowance when using formal registered childcare – irrespective of nationality or length of stay. Even if you do not pay tax in the Netherlands, you are often still eligible for the refund.

Learn more about the benefit by clicking (here)

Child Daycare (kinderdagverblijf)

Details about the benefit:

Daycare in the Netherlands is available at the centers for up to 10 hours per day), five days per week. Children play and learn in a safe environment. They usually receive a hot meal, drinks, and snacks.
For expat residents, there is also the option of international daycare in the Netherlands

Who qualifies for the benefit:

It is available for children aged between 0 and 4 years of age
In 2018 the maximum hourly rate on which childcare benefit was based was € 7.45 for day nurseries, € 6.95 for out-of-school care, and € 5.91 for childcare by registered childminders.
Infants as young as six weeks old can attend
Drop-off time is typically between 8 and 8:30 A.M
Pick-up time is generally between 5:30 and 6 P.M
Some centers offer more flexible hours. A few even have a 24 hour service
You also have the option of taking your child to the center for what the Dutch refer to as ‘day portions’, or ‘dagdelen‘. This means that your infant can stay at the center for only the morning, or only the afternoon. You can do this on just a few days a week, or everyday if you prefer
Some of the kinderdagverblijven allow older children, aged 12 and under, to attend for pre and after-school hours and school holiday.

Learn more about the benefit by clicking (here)

Caregiver Benefit (zorgtoeslag)

Details about the benefit:

The Netherlands Insurance Care Expenses Benefit Costs Medical Coverage Elderly People Insurance Plan Health Insurance International Patients Intl Health Care Living Abroad Patient Expenses Private Hospital Services Private Travel Insurance Reciprocal Agreement Statutory Sick Pay Tax Refunds
This benefit is for people who have to incur healthcare costs that exceed the standard deductible. For example, if your healthcare costs are more than €385 ($454; £288) a year, you can claim back part of your health insurance premiums from the tax authorities. This benefit is paid directly into your bank account every month.

Who qualifies for the benefit:

You must be insured in the Netherlands for this benefit.
Your employer may also pay part of your health insurance, so you can subtract what they pay from your deductible and receive benefit zorgtoeslag for the rest.
You must fill in a form to claim benefit zorgtoeslag. You should have received an annual letter giving you information about how much money you are entitled to receive in back payments of this benefit if you are registered with a Netherlands general practitioner (GP). This letter contains information about how much money you are due and when it is payable.
Claimed during tax return in the Netherlands at end of year month, via employers Netherlands payrolls department?

Learn more about the benefit by clicking (here)

Healthcare Allowance (Zorgtoeslag)

Details about the benefit:

Healthcare allowance is a contribution to pay the healthcare premium and the deductible for people with a lower (or middle) income. How much health care allowance you can receive depends on, among other things, income and living situation.
You are entitled to health care allowance if you meet the conditions of the Tax Authorities . You can apply for a healthcare allowance via the website of the Tax Authorities.

Who qualifies for the benefit:

You are 18 years or older
You have Dutch health insurance
Your income is below the (joint) income limit
You have Dutch nationality or are legally in the Netherlands
Your (joint) assets are not too high

Learn more about the benefit by clicking (here) and (here)

Netherlands Healthcare Benefits

Group health insurance (‘Collectieve Zorgverzekering’)

Details about the benefit:

€3.21 discount per month on the basic insurance
The cheapest additional insurance for free
Discount on more expensive additional insurance policies
You can choose from 3 supplementary insurance policies

Who qualifies for the benefit:

You must be 18 years or older.
You must live in Amsterdam.
You must have a low income and little wealth
You agree to payment by direct debit
You are now uninsured or you are already insured with Zilveren Kruis.
If you are now insured with another insurer, you can switch to the Zilveren Kruis from mid-November to the end of December

→ Learn more about the benefit by clicking (here)

Child Benefit (kindgebonden budget)

Child benefit is a benefit to help with the cost of looking after a child. It is paid once every quarter. You can get child benefit until your child reaches the age of 18. Sometimes we stop paying child benefit earlier, for example if your child leaves school. To qualify for child benefit, you have to be insured under the Dutch child benefit scheme.

Details about the benefit:

Is your child over 12 years old? Then, you will receive an extra amount.
Single parents can receive an additional amount of up to € 270 per month. This amount is independent of the number of children in the household.
The child benefit aims to help parents cover the cost of raising children by helping cover costs
Cost such as children’s clothing, food and school expenses. This is often the most important benefit for many families.

Who qualifies for the benefit:

You have one or more kids under the age of 18.
You receive the child benefit (kinderbijslag) from the Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB).
You have a valid residence permit.
You earn below a certain level (the income restrictions are dependent upon the number of children you have).

Learn more about the benefit by clicking (here)

Housing Allowance (“huurtoeslag”)

Details about the benefit:

Housing allowance (also known as rental allowance or rent benefit) is created by the Dutch government as a financial contribution towards the cost of a rented dwelling. The housing allowance (“huurtoeslag”) is only intended for people below a government-determined income threshold. In addition, there is a maximum rent eligible for subsidization. In order to be eligible for the housing allowance you have to meet certain conditions.

Who qualifies for the benefit:

Anyone above 18 years old and rents a house/apartment in the Netherlands can request for housing allowance. You have to meet the following criteria.
Dutch residence permit or Dutch/EU-nationality;
Independent (autonomous) housing;
Total rent payable below threshold;
The gross employment income is below the threshold;
Worldwide estate/wealth below the threshold;

Learn more about the benefit by clicking (here)

Rental Housing Allowance (huurtoeslag)

Details about the benefit:

The housing allowance (huurtoeslag) is intended to help residents who rent their home and earn less than a government-determined income threshold. There is also a maximum rent eligible for subsidisation. The rents of social housing normally conform to these maximums, but private rental accommodation is often too high. To be considered for housing allowance you must apply online (in Dutch).

Who qualifies for the benefit:

You are 18 years of age or older. You rent independent accommodation.
You, your possible benefit partner, and co-occupants are registered at your home address in the Netherlands.
Your rent, (combined) income and capital are not too high.
You have the nationality of an EU country, Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland or Switzerland. Are you from another country? In that case, you need a valid residence permit or work permit.

Learn more about the benefit by clicking (here)

30% Ruling for Highly Skilled Migant Workers

Details about the benefit:

If you are coming to work in the Netherlands from another country you may experience higher cost of living than you are used to, for instance, because living expense here are higher than in your country. If so, your employer may compensate you for these so-called ‘extraterritorial costs’ untaxed. Your employer may also choose to pay you 30% of your salary, extraterritorial costs included, tax-free. This is the 30% facility.

Who qualifies for the benefit:

You are in paid employment.
You have a specific expertise that is not or hardly found on the Dutch labour market.
You were recruited outside of the Netherlands.
You are in possession of a valid decision.

Learn more about the benefit by clicking (here)

Labour Tax Credit (arbeidskorting)

Details about the benefit:

Every working person in the Netherlands is entitled to receive the labour tax credit (arbeidskorting or loonheffingskorting). Like the general tax credit, the labour tax credit is calculated by your employer and applied to your salary, so you receive it automatically. If you work for yourself then the tax credits are calculated when you complete your annual tax return

Who qualifies for the benefit:

The value of your labour tax credit depends on how much you earn. In 2021, labour tax credit is calculated as follows for people not yet at retirement age:

€0-€10.108 income = 4,581% x income (arbeidsinkomen)
€10.108-€21.835 income = €463 euros + 28,771% x (income – €10.108)
€21.835-€35.652 = €3.837 + 2,663% x (income – €21.835)
€35.652-€105.736 = €4.205 – 6% x (income – €35.652)
€105.736 = €0

Learn more about the benefit by clicking (here)

Social Assistance Benefits (bijstandsuitkering aanvraagt)

Details about the benefit:

Do you temporarily have no work and too little money to live on? And are you not entitled to another benefit, such as unemployment benefits? Then you can apply for social assistance benefit from your municipality.

Who qualifies for the benefit:

In order to qualify for the Dutch rent benefit, you (and your fiscal partner) need to meet the following conditions:

You are currently unemployed
Have a BSN Number
your income (your wages, tax refund, alimony)
your current benefits
your living situation (amount of rent/mortgage)
your last employer or the employment agency for which you work or worked and the start and end dates of this contract
your co-residents (with citizen service number and date of birth)
the income of your possible partner
proof of registration with UWV of your partner, if any
your assets
When applying for social assistance benefit: information about savings and valuables, the amount of your debts and your bank accounts.
For IOAW benefits: details of your bank accounts.

Learn more about the benefit by clicking (here) and (here)

Dutch Pensions (nederlands pensioen)

Most people who live or work in the Netherlands can get an AOW pension. AOW is the Dutch basic state pension. You can get your AOW pension when you reach your AOW pension age.

Details about the benefit:

The amount of AOW pension you can get depends on:
Whether you live alone or with another adult, and
How many years you lived/have lived or worked in the Netherlands
If you only lived and worked in the Netherlands, you will be entitled to a 100% AOW pension.

Who qualifies for the benefit:

You live on your own: €1,226.60 net
You are married or you share a house with another adult: €838.55 net
If you have lived or worked for a period outside the Netherlands, you will have built up fewer AOW pension rights. This means you will get a smaller AOW pension.
Your pension will be reduced by 2% for each year you were not living or working in the Netherlands.

Learn more about the benefit by clicking (here)