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 Maastricht.

Municipality of Maastricht

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 have a low income and few assets.
You are unable to cover special expenses.
The expenses are necessary.
The costs are caused by special circumstances. You cannot apply for bijzondere bijstand (special social assistance) for normal costs such as daily shopping and rent.
You do not qualify for any other benefit or allowance.
The costs were made in the Netherlands.
You live in the municipality of Maastricht, Meerssen, Gulpen-Wittem, Vaals or Valkenburg
the costs must still be made. There are exceptions, but the invoice may never be older than 1 year.

Residents who face cots because they have to pay a personal contribution to the CAK for household assistance (WMO), housing adjustments (WMO), transport facilities (WMO) and guidance (WMO), but cannot afford it, can apply for bijzondere bijstand (special social assistance).

You can apply for bijzondere bijstand (special social assistance) online using DigiD. When applying online, you will need to upload several documents that will be sent along with your application. We will not process your application until we have received all the required documents.

If you are unable to apply online or if you do not have DigiD, you can also apply in writing. Download the application form from the website Bijzondere bijstand | Sociale Zaken Maastricht Heuvelland (socialezaken-mh.nl) or request one by calling 14 043.

The municipality will send you a letter within 8 weeks. It will state whether you will receive bijzondere bijstand (special social assistance) and how much you will receive. It will also state whether you will receive bijzondere bijstand in the form of a loan or non-repayable allowance.

You can object to the decision on your application. Please do so within 6 weeks. If you disagree with the decision on the objection, you can appeal to the court.

More information