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
Municipality of Westerwolde: Applying for 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 can apply if you are 18 years of age or older
- There are no other arrangements you can make use of
- Your income is less than or equal to 110% of the welfare standard
- You apply before incurring the costs
- Benefits you can apply for include meal service, legal aid, additional laundry costs for clothing and bedding
- Non-eligible expenses: rent, energy costs, telephone expenses, a washing machine, medical expenses, dental costs
- Evidence by which we can identify that the costs are both exceptional and necessary
- Your and your spouse's/partner's most recent salary or benefit information
- Invoices: no more than 2 months old
- All bank statements for the last 3 months
- Documents on debts, lease, own house, other assets, and possessions
Please contact us to request a form. Phone: +31 599 32 02 20 or e-mail: gemeente@westerwolde.nl.
We will come to a decision, within 8 weeks.
Questions about this topic?
Contact the Municipality of Westerwolde
Visiting address
Dorpsstraat 1
9551AB Sellingen
| Monday | 09.00 - 16.00 |
| Tuesday | 09.00 - 16.00 |
| Wednesday | 09.00 - 19.00 |
| Thursday | 09.00 - 16.00 |
| Friday | 09.00 - 12.00 |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |