How much savings or assets may I have while receiving social assistance?
In 2026 the national asset limit is €8,000 for a single person and €16,000 for a single parent or joint household. Valuables count. Separate equity rules apply to the home you live in; owning it does not automatically exclude assistance. A second or holiday home generally counts as ordinary assets. Deducting debts requires a provable repayment obligation; student debts and debts repayable only later are not deducted.
What would you like help with?
Detailed explanation, checklist and sources
This plan helps you check the relevant Dutch social-assistance rule, collect the right documents and use your municipality’s official route.
On this page
1. Identify the social-assistance rule
In 2026 the national asset limit is €8,000 for a single person and €16,000 for a single parent or joint household. Valuables count. Separate equity rules apply to the home you live in; owning it does not automatically exclude assistance. A second or holiday home generally counts as ordinary assets. Deducting debts requires a provable repayment obligation; student debts and debts repayable only later are not deducted.
2. Check your personal situation
This guidance concerns Dutch general social assistance under the Participatiewet. The municipality assesses your personal situation and may use its own form or portal.
3. Collect the decisive information
Read the complete letter or application confirmation. Note the assessed period and prepare only the data needed for this social-assistance question.
4. Use the official municipal route
List accounts, assets, property and debts with evidence as of the application date. Ask the municipality to apply the correct household status and valuation; do not hide or move assets.
5. Check exceptions and changes
A notification, a new application and an objection are different steps. For a decision, always check the remedy and deadline in your own letter.
6. Keep proof and seek timely help
Keep proof of sending and receipt with your records. Seek timely help if income stops, several people count or the municipality uses different facts.
7. Calculate equity in your home
For your own occupied home, equity is current value less outstanding mortgage. The municipality may use a valuation or WOZ. In 2026 the separate threshold is€67,500: below it, assistance may be a grant if other conditions are met; above it municipal policy may allow a repayable loan, possibly mortgage-secured. Houseboats and mobile homes follow the same explanation. Sale or extra borrowing is not automatic; reasonable housing costs matter. Request a written assessment of borderline cases and payment form.
What can I do now in practice?
List accounts, assets, property and debts with evidence as of the application date. Ask the municipality to apply the correct household status and valuation; do not hide or move assets. Use your own municipality’s form, portal or contact channel. This website files nothing, calculates no individual entitlement and does not replace an objection to a decision.
Documents to prepare
Prepare your next stepFill in and save · Word
Tick what you have checked or collected. Note what is missing and take your overview to a meeting.
Unless saved in My overview: Your entries stay only on this screen. Download before leaving; closing or reloading clears them. Do not enter identity numbers, passwords or unnecessary personal details.
What do you still need for your next step?
Item 1 / 8 · Where do you stand with this item?
Complete application, letter or municipal decision
This overview follows your own answers. It does not assess your rights or guarantee that your file is complete.
Your choices stay here. Use the buttons below if you want to save or download.
View all details, notes and timeline
Your timeline and evidence
List events and contacts. Note where you keep the evidence; no upload is needed.
What goes in my timeline?
Record what happened, when, the response and where to find the letter, message or photo. Mark uncertain dates.
Is my evidence sent?
No. You only note where it is kept. No files are uploaded or sent automatically.
How do I save my timeline?
Your entries are not saved automatically. Choose Save and continue later to store this preparation, including your timeline, in My overview. Wait for confirmation and save new changes again. You can also download a Word file without an account.
Up to 20 events. Choose a different position for an event to change the order.
0 / 8 · Checked or collected
For each event, note the date, what happened and where the evidence is kept. Example: 3 October — letter received — correspondence folder.
Describe the solution you would like, such as an explanation of a deduction and repayment of the outstanding amount.
For example: which document is missing, who can provide it and what should I do first?
Record the date and its source. If unknown, note this and check promptly. This tool does not calculate or monitor deadlines.
After your conversation
These are your own notes. Confirm agreements with the other person; these notes do not prove their agreement.
This is your preparation, not a submitted request, objection or legally reviewed document. A tick records only your own progress. Check the procedure and deadline in the original letter.
Save and continue later
Clear entries
Download anything you want to keep first. Clearing cannot be undone.
- Complete application, letter or municipal decision
- Application date, letter date, reference and stated response date
- Income, bank statements and evidence of repayable debts
- Living and family situation and relevant changes
- Documents supporting this specific question
- Copy of notification, application or response and receipt
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 — voorwaarden algemene bijstand ↗Rijksoverheid — nieuwe bijstandsregels 2026 en 2027 ↗Rijksoverheid — eigen woning en bijstand ↗Rijksoverheid · Eigen woning ↗Sources may be in Dutch. General information about Dutch law, not individual legal advice.