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.

This is how it works for you

Your (future) place of residence falls under:

Municipality of Smallingerland

Here is some information from your municipality.

Municipality of Smallingerland: Applying for special social assistance

Minimum schemes

Minima schemes is a collective term for schemes for people with a low income. Think of the special assistance, Individual income supplement, Individual study allowance and AV Frieso Complete. You can make use of these schemes if your family income and assets are lower than the applicable standards. A minima scheme can reimburse a number of costs for you. Do you have an income up to 115% of the social assistance standard? Then you can probably use a number of schemes. The standards and power limits can be found in the [budget guide]( Individuele inkomenstoeslag aanvragen) (pdf).

bijzondere bijstand (special social assistance)

Do you incur extra costs due to illness or for social reasons, for example? Are you unable to pay these costs yourself and cannot be reimbursed anywhere else? Contact us. We look at your personal situation for this. We also look at whether you could have avoided the costs or whether you could have reserved money for them. Submit your application before you incur the costs. Even if your income exceeds 115% of the social assistance standard, you may be eligible for (partial) special assistance.

Online: Application bijzondere bijstand (special social assistance)

For more information, please contact the municipality of Smallingerland.

Telephonenumber: 0512 581 234
Email: gemeente@smallingerland.nl
online: Contactform (smallingerland.nl)