How much Dutch social assistance applies to my situation?
General social assistance conditionally tops up income to your applicable standard. From 1 July 2026, ordinary monthly standards for age 21 to AOW age are €1,419.46 for a single person and €2,027.79 for a couple together, including holiday allowance. These are not automatic bank payments.
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Detailed explanation, checklist and sources
On this page
1. Check eligibility first
Dutch general assistance requires, among other things, age 18 or over, residence in the Netherlands, qualifying residence status and insufficient income and assets. Prior entitlement to other benefits and detention can exclude assistance. The municipality assesses eligibility; low income alone is insufficient.
2. Choose age, household and period
The quoted amounts apply from 1 July 2026 for ages 21 to AOW age. The couple’s figure is joint, not per person. Ages 18–20 have a lower youth standard. At AOW age another standard applies and the SVB AIO route may be relevant. Standards usually change in January and July.
3. Compare the standard with payment
The standard includes holiday allowance. Your monthly transfer may be lower because some is reserved, income is offset or other deductions apply. Compare the same period using a benefit statement. Do not subtract every income item yourself: exemptions and other rules may matter.
Rijksoverheid · Hoogte bijstand ↗
4. Check partner and housemates
A partner or joint household means joint income and assets count. Other housemates aged 27 or over may affect the shared-cost standard; their income is not automatically partner income. Certain students and commercial rental arrangements are exempt. Use our separate guidance and have the municipality assess your household.
5. Prepare decisive information
Record age, household and period. Prepare the decision, statement, relevant income, bank and asset information and, where needed, housemates’ rental or education evidence. Do not share full files publicly. Home ownership and debts require separate checks; not every debt reduces assessed assets.
6. Ask the municipality for the calculation
Ask which standard, income offsets and deductions the municipality used. For a new claim use the existing application route; asking for an explanation does not replace an objection. Check the decision’s deadline and route promptly if you disagree. Our help request supports preparation and submits nothing automatically.
Is the holiday-inclusive amount my monthly bank payment?
Not necessarily. The standard and your transfer differ. Check reserved holiday allowance, income offsets and other entries on the statement.
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Age and assessed month
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- Age and assessed month
- Single, partner or housemates
- Decision and benefit statement
- Income, assets and evidence
- Reserved holiday allowance and deductions
- Municipal explanation and objection deadline
Contact with a lawyer
You can use the chat and information without a phone number. A contact request requires a phone number, a verified email address and your wish for telephone contact. Our team assesses which partner fits your question. Data is shared only under the stated consent procedure. A partner or engagement is not guaranteed.
View the current application processSources
Need personal assistance? Request a lawyer through our chat. We explain the next step; submitting a request does not engage a lawyer. The links below support the legal information.
Rijksoverheid · Hoogte bijstand ↗Rijksoverheid · Recht op bijstand ↗Rijksoverheid · Kostendelersnorm ↗Rijksoverheid · Aanvraag ↗Rijksoverheid · Vakantiegeld bij uitkering ↗Sources may be in Dutch. General information about Dutch law, not individual legal advice.