Applying for social assistance

You can apply for social assistance from the municipality of Hellendoorn if you meet the following additional conditions:

• You live in the municipality of Hellendoorn.
• You do not yet receive an Algemene Ouderdomswet – AOW (State Pension).
• Do you live with your partner or have a joint household with someone? If so, the income and savings of that person are also taken into account.
• You are participating in activities offered to you by the municipality of Hellendoorn to find work.
• You must understand, speak, read and write Dutch to a sufficient standard. You are entitled to social welfare assistance even if your Dutch is not good enough. However, the municipality may reduce your welfare benefit if you do not do your best to learn Dutch.
• Are you between 18 and 27 years old? If so, you can also apply for social assistance on the condition that, first, you actively look for work or education for 4 weeks.

You go to the UWV website, Werk.nl. You need DigiD for this. There you register as a job seeker. UWV indicates which documents you need.

UWV checks whether there is work for you. Can't get started right away? Then UWV will forward your application for social assistance to the municipality.

The municipality determines whether you are entitled to social assistance benefits and how much money you will receive. Do you have roommates? This may affect the amount of your benefit.

You will find out within 8 weeks whether you will receive social assistance. You will receive social assistance from the date of the application.

You can object to the decision on your application. Do this within 6 weeks. Do you then disagree with the decision on the notice of objection? Then file an appeal with the court.