Housing allowance

Are you having trouble paying your rent or mortgage? You may be eligible for temporary assistance with your housing costs. Apply for housing benefit from your local municipality.

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Approach

Fill out the online form.

Are you not receiving benefits from the municipality of Heerlen? In that case, we usually do not have enough information about you to assess your application.
If so, please also submit the following with your application:

  • a copy of your (and your partner's) identity document
  • proof of your income, such as a pay slip
  • an overview of your assets
  • an overview of your debts
  • your insurance policies
  • if you are divorced: your divorce details
  • supporting documents regarding the cost items for an owner-occupied home

Description

If your income suddenly drops, you may have trouble paying your rent or mortgage. You may be eligible for housing benefit. This is a temporary contribution from the municipality that makes it easier for you to pay your rent or mortgage.

Do you live in rented accommodation? If so, only the rent is included in the calculation of your housing costs. If you own your home, the following are included:

  • mortgage interest (repayments and consumer loans secured against the property are not included)
  • building insurance
  • property tax
  • owner's share of water board tax
  • sewerage charge
  • a fixed amount for maintenance costs

Requirements

If your housing costs are too high, you must find cheaper accommodation within one year. This period can be extended by a maximum of one year. Do you receive a state pension (AOW)? Then this condition does not apply.

The Requirements the housing allowance are:

  • You are 18 years of age or older.
  • You are registered with the municipality.
  • You are not in prison, a detention center, or a psychiatric hospital.
  • You are not eligible for (full) rental allowance.
  • Your income and assets are too low to cover the high cost of living. 

If your income suddenly drops, you may have problems paying your rent or mortgage. The housing allowance is a contribution for when you suddenly have less income and receive no or temporarily less rent allowance.
The housing allowance is NOT for costs other than the costs of your rent or mortgage, such as gas, water, and electricity. You pay these costs yourself.
Even if your rent is above the rent allowance limit, you may sometimes be eligible for a housing allowance.

Term

The municipality will make a decision within eight weeks of receiving your application. The municipality may extend this period once.

Objections and appeals

You can lodge an objection to the decision on your application within six weeks. If you disagree with the ruling on the objection, you can lodge an appeal with the court.

For more information, see: Submitting an objection.

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