Applying for special assistance

Do you have a low income and unexpected high expenses? Then you can apply for special assistance. This is an amount of money to pay these costs. You can apply for special assistance for, for example, attorney fees and the costs of guardianship. You can get special assistance if you have a low income and no (or little) capital. For example, if you have social security benefits. 

Arrange online

Download application form (pdf)

Approach

Are you already receiving benefits from the municipality of Heerlen?

  •  Then use the online Special Assistance application form. 

Are you not receiving benefits from the municipality of Heerlen?

  • Complete the application form Special Assistance - Extended (pdf). We usually have no or too little information from you to be able to assess your application.
    The application form tells you which supporting documents you need to include. 

Want to know if it makes sense to apply? Then check out CalculateYourRight. Within a few minutes you will know if you can send the application.  

Description

Special assistance is an amount of money to pay for unexpected expenses. The municipality can give special assistance as a gift or as a loan.

We therefore ask you some questions:

  • Do you have enough money on your own in the short term to pay the costs?
  • Could you have avoided needing special assistance?
  • Do you need the special assistance for a security deposit?
  • Did you not save up for durable consumer goods, such as a refrigerator or washing machine?

Terms

Among other things, we look at your income and assets to assess your entitlement to special assistance. For special assistance, the social minimum is slightly higher than the assistance standard applicable to you. We assume a higher amount, so that people with an income slightly above the social minimum can still qualify for reimbursement of particularly necessary expenses. You can read below how high your income and assets may be. To be entitled to special assistance, we also look, for example, at whether the costs are necessary and whether you could have saved for these costs. 

What income limits apply to carrying capacity?

If your net income (including vacation pay) per month is less than 120% of the social assistance standard, you do not have income support. The income above that amount will be deducted from the compensation you receive. The income limit for costs of debt management is 100% of the social assistance standard.
You can find the amount of the social assistance standards at rijksoverheid.nl

For energy costs, we are raising the income limit to 130% of the welfare standard.

What asset limits apply?

We also deduct assets above a certain amount from the reimbursement of expenses. By assets we mean: possessions and/or debts.

We release the following amounts:

  • Single person €7,575.00
  • Single parent €15,150.00
  • Married/cohabitants €15,150.00

Threshold amount

A threshold amount of € 50.00 applies to some expenses. By this we mean that you will not be reimbursed for the first € 50.00 per year. If you receive ongoing special assistance, we will deduct € 50.00 each year. 

Term

The municipality decides within 8 weeks of receiving your application. The municipality may extend this period once.

Objection and appeal

You can object to the decision on your application within 6 weeks. The decision will tell you how to do that. 

Learn more

Calculate your entitlement to benefits in Heerlen

Learn more about the level of assistance standards at Rijksoverheid.nl

Special assistance information

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