Applying for special social assistance

If you have a low income and it is impossible for you to pay exceptional and unexpected costs, you may be entitled to extra financial support from the municipality. This is called special social assistance (bijzondere bijstand).

Special social assistance is subject to the following conditions among others:

you are lawfully living and staying in the Netherlands.
you do not have enough income and funds to pay the costs yourself.
you are at least 18 years old.
you have expenses due to an exceptional or urgent situation, such as surgery or moving house.
you cannot cover the costs in any other way.

Your municipality can tell you what other conditions apply in your situation.

If you have any questions about your situation, contact your municipality.

You can also contact the Sociaal Raadslieden (social counsellors) in your municipality. They provide free information and advice on legal problems. If there are none in your municipality find Sociaal Raadslieden closest to you (in Dutch) on the Sociaal Werk Nederland website.

You can also get free legal advice in English from Het Juridisch Loket (Legal Services Counter) (link in Dutch). Het Juridisch Loket provides clients with advice and information on all areas of law. All consultations are confidential and free of charge.

This is how it works in your (future) place of residence

Your (future) place of residence falls under the Municipality of Krimpenerwaard.

Municipality of Krimpenerwaard

Bijzondere bijstand (special social assistance)

Please note: you can apply for bijzondere bijstand (special social assistance) only if you live in the Netherlands and are registered with a municipality.

you are Dutch or equivalent. You are equivalent to a Dutch citizen if you come from a European country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland or Switzerland. You are also equated if you have a valid residence permit or otherwise lawfully reside in the Netherlands (for example, if you are conducting legal proceedings against a rejection of your residence permit);
you live and stay in the Netherlands. You must also live in the municipality of Krimpenerwaard;
you have a low income and little or no assets;
it must concern special necessary costs.

Supporting documents are requested for applying for special social assistance. It depends on your situation which supporting documents you need. You can read more about this on the municipality's website.

Fill in the online form via krimpenerwaard.nl/bijzondere-bijstand.