Applying for special social assistance

The municipality determines whether you are eligible for special assistance. You must always meet the following conditions:

• The costs must be necessary.
• There are special circumstances. Everyone has to incur costs for, for example, food, housing and the like. These are general costs. The costs of, for example, a lawyer are in many cases special, necessary costs.
• There is no other organization that reimburses the costs.
• You have a low income and your assets are not too high.

Little carrying capacity

You can only receive special assistance if you have a low income to pay necessary costs. Midden-Delfland applies an income limit of 110% of the social assistance standard that applies to you. Is your income lower? Then we usually reimburse the costs in full. Is your income higher? Then you may have to pay (part of) the costs yourself. 

We determine your carrying capacity annually. The special assistance will only be paid when you can demonstrate you have spent the space in your income and/or assets on special costs. 

Gift or (interest-free) loan

You often receive the compensation as a gift. In that case, you do not have to repay the amount. In some cases, the assistance is provided to you in the form of an interest-free loan. A payment term will then be agreed with you. 

Cost categories

You can apply for special assistance for many different costs. Here are examples of costs that may apply to you: 

• Additional costs of meals through the meal facility. 
• Playgroup: if the Childcare Act (Wkkp) cannot be invoked, special assistance can be provided for a maximum of 2 half-days per week. 
• School costs: if you have school-age children in primary or secondary education (VMBO/HAVO/VWO/MBO), you can request a contribution towards the school costs. For a child in primary school, the contribution per school year is € 100,-. For a child in secondary education, the contribution is € 250 per school year. 
• Bicycle: is your child going to secondary education for the first time? Then you can apply for special assistance for a bicycle. The maximum reimbursement is €250 for the bicycle and €50 for additional costs, such as an extra lock and/or insurance. 
• Computer: in the three years prior to your application, did you have an income lower than 110% of the social assistance standard that applies to you? And do you not have a computer or a computer older than 4 years? Then you may be eligible for assistance. The reimbursement amounts to a maximum of € 600. The reimbursement applies per family and once every 4 years. 
• Social participation: are you older than 18 and do you also want to participate in sports or become a member of a cultural association? Then you may be eligible for compensation for social participation. You will then receive a maximum of € 225 for, for example, membership of a sports association, a music association or creative courses. The amount is paid on a claim basis. You can ask the municipality for more information. 
• In a wetland area such as Midden-Delfland, we think it is important that everyone, young and old, can swim. That is why we provide special assistance for swimming lessons up to diploma B (maximum two years).

Save the bills and receipts

It is important to keep all bills and receipts safe. You will only receive special assistance if you can demonstrate that you have actually incurred the costs.

Request special assistance

You can request special assistance from the Team Implementation – Work and Income. Do you receive a benefit from the municipality? Then a lot of information is already known. Do you have another income? In that case, you must submit at least the following information: 

• A valid proof of identity for you and possibly your partner (no driver's license); 
• Proof of your income, your assets and debts of you and possibly your partner; 
• Description of the special costs.

Request special assistance before incurring the costs. Requesting special assistance with retroactive effect is only possible in exceptional situations.

The municipality will decide on your application within 8 weeks. Do you disagree with the decision? Then you can submit a notice of objection.