Special Assistance for Housing Costs: extra support for housing expenses
Special assistance for housing costs is a temporary supplement provided by the municipality as a top-up to regular benefits. This support is intended for people who need extra financial assistance to pay their housing costs, such as rent or mortgage. It is a measure to prevent people from having to leave their home due to financial problems. In this article, we explain exactly what special assistance for housing costs entails, when you may be entitled to it, and what steps you need to take to receive this support.
What is special assistance for housing costs?
Special assistance for housing costs is a form of special assistance, a supplementary benefit that can be provided in addition to regular benefits. This supplement is specifically aimed at paying housing costs, such as:
- Rent for a dwelling
- Mortgage payments
- Service charges
- Energy costs
- Other costs directly related to housing
Legal basis
Special assistance for housing costs is regulated in the Social Assistance Act (Wet werk en bijstand (Wwb)). Article 43 of this act stipulates that the municipality may grant special assistance if there is an unforeseen exceptional circumstance that renders regular benefits insufficient. In addition, the Social Support Act (Wet maatschappelijke ondersteuning (Wmo)) also plays a role, particularly in supporting the retention of one's own home.
When are you entitled to special assistance for housing costs?
To qualify for special assistance for housing costs, a number of conditions must be met. These are:
1. You receive regular benefits
You must already be receiving a benefits payment from your municipality. If you do not receive benefits, you may still be entitled to regular benefits. Read more here: Amount of benefits payment 2024.
2. There is an exceptional circumstance
The municipality may grant special assistance if there is an unforeseen exceptional circumstance. This may include, for example:
- A sudden increase in rent or mortgage payments.
- Unexpected repair costs for the dwelling.
- Energy costs higher than expected, for example due to an increase in the energy bill.
- A necessary move that incurs extra costs.
- Deferral of rent or mortgage payment by the landlord or bank, requiring temporary extra funds.
3. Regular benefits are insufficient
Special assistance is only provided if regular benefits are not sufficient to cover housing costs. The municipality therefore first looks at your total income and expenses.
4. You actively participate in a debt assistance plan
If you have debts, it is often a condition that you participate in a debt assistance plan. This can be drawn up by the municipality or a debt counselor. The aim is to improve your financial situation in the long term.
How do you apply for special assistance for housing costs?
To apply for special assistance for housing costs, you must submit a request for special assistance to your municipality. This usually proceeds as follows:
- Contact your municipality: Report your situation to the social services department of your municipality. You can do this by telephone, email, or at the counter.
- Complete an application form: The municipality will provide you with a form or have you fill out an online application. In it, you must explain why you need extra support and which housing costs you cannot pay.
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Provide evidence: You must demonstrate that you actually have extra housing costs. This can be done, for example, by means of:
- A tenancy agreement or mortgage agreement.
- An overview of your debts.
- A letter from your landlord or bank explaining the extra costs.
- An energy bill or an overview of repair costs.
- Await decision: The municipality has a maximum of 4 weeks to process your request. In some cases, this may take longer if more information is needed.
- Receive the benefit: If your request is granted, you will receive the special assistance for housing costs as a one-off or periodic benefit, depending ```