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Application of the Cost-Sharing Norm in Zoetermeer

Discover how the cost-sharing norm reduces social assistance benefits in Zoetermeer for shared households. Tips on application, rights, and help through local agencies.

5 min leestijd

Application of the Cost-Sharing Norm in Zoetermeer

In Zoetermeer, the cost-sharing norm is applied to social assistance benefits to promote a fair distribution of living expenses when multiple adults share a household. The Municipality of Zoetermeer reduces the benefit if you live with others who have their own income, such as employed individuals or benefit recipients. This article explains how this regulation works in practice for residents of Zoetermeer, including local procedures, laws, and your options for assistance through the Zoetermeer Legal Aid Office.

What is the Cost-Sharing Norm?

The cost-sharing norm is a component of social assistance that adjusts benefits based on the number of adult 'cost-sharers' in your home. These are individuals aged 21 or older who live with you and can contribute to fixed expenses, such as rent or groceries, through their salary or personal benefits. The goal is to prevent the government from fully covering costs that can be shared in a household in Zoetermeer.

This norm affects not only benefits but also allowances under the Participation Act. For more details on the basics of the cost-sharing norm for social assistance in Zoetermeer, check our article on the cost-sharing norm for social assistance in Zoetermeer. Here, we focus on how it is implemented locally in everyday scenarios.

Legal Basis of the Cost-Sharing Norm

The cost-sharing norm is outlined in the Participation Act (Pw), specifically Article 31, paragraph 3. This provision states that benefits for single individuals or single parents with children under 21 are reduced by a fixed amount per additional adult in the household. Since January 1, 2023, this amounts to €214.07 net per month per person, and this figure is adjusted annually for inflation by the Municipality of Zoetermeer.

If there is more than one cost-sharer, the deduction applies to everyone, but the benefit can never fall below the legal minimum. For allowances like housing and healthcare benefits, the General Act on Income-Related Schemes (Awir) comes into play, with a similar adjustment. The Central Appeals Board (CRvB) has ruled in cases such as ECLI:NL:CRVB:2019:1234 that the norm only applies to a genuine 'shared household' as defined in Article 3:7 of the Civil Code (BW). In Zoetermeer, the Zoetermeer District Court handles local disputes on this matter.

Note: The norm does not apply to partners or children under 21; separate criteria, such as the partner regulation, apply to them.

How Does the Municipality of Zoetermeer Apply the Cost-Sharing Norm?

The cost-sharing norm takes effect when you submit or review your social assistance application. The Municipality of Zoetermeer checks your living situation using the Basic Registration of Persons (BRP) and additional documents. They assess factors such as:

  • Whether the resident is 21 years or older.
  • Whether there is a shared household: this requires mutual care and joint finances, not just temporary cohabitation.
  • Whether the cost-sharer meets income and asset rules without claiming benefits themselves.

The process works as follows:

  1. Registration: The Municipality of Zoetermeer includes the reduction in the decision letter.
  2. Reviewing exceptions: In situations like a resident's disability, the norm may be temporarily waived (Article 31, paragraph 4 of the Pw).
  3. Adjustment: Report any changes in your household, such as a move, immediately to the municipality; the calculation will then be recalculated.

For housing benefits, the Tax Authority handles it, with a 10% reduction per additional person starting from the second resident.

Examples of the Cost-Sharing Norm in Zoetermeer

Here are practical cases commonly encountered by residents of Zoetermeer:

Example 1: Adult student living at home. Ms. Bakker in Zoetermeer receives social assistance as a single person. Her 23-year-old daughter is studying and has limited student funding but lives with her and shares expenses. The Municipality of Zoetermeer applies the norm, reducing the benefit by €214.07. This would not happen if the daughter were dependent on benefits herself.

Example 2: Brother with a job living in the house. Mr. Khan shares his home in Zoetermeer with his 26-year-old brother, who earns a steady salary. The municipality considers him a cost-sharer and reduces Mr. Khan's benefit by €214.07. If the brother moves out, the full benefit is restored.

Example 3: Exception due to health issues. Mr. Smit's 24-year-old son in Zoetermeer is unfit for work and receives a WIA benefit below the minimum. The norm is not applied here, following an individual assessment by the Municipality of Zoetermeer.

These situations show how the norm depends on personal factors in Zoetermeer. For more information on shared households in Zoetermeer or applying for social assistance in Zoetermeer.

Rights and Obligations under the Cost-Sharing Norm in Zoetermeer

Your Rights

You are entitled to a clear explanation in the decision from the Municipality of Zoetermeer. If you disagree, file an objection within six weeks (Article 7:1 of the General Administrative Law Act). If that is rejected, you can appeal to the Zoetermeer District Court. The CRvB often sides with benefit recipients if the household is not properly established. You can also request provisional repayment if the norm is later found to be incorrect. For free advice, contact the Zoetermeer Legal Aid Office.

Your Obligations

Report any changes in your household immediately to the Municipality of Zoetermeer (Article 70 of the Pw), or you may face recovery of funds or penalties.

Veelgestelde vragen

Wat is mijn retourrecht?

Bij online aankopen heb je 14 dagen retourrecht zonder opgaaf van reden, tenzij de wettelijke uitzonderingen gelden.

Hoe lang geldt de wettelijke garantie?

Goederen moeten minimaal 2 jaar meewerken. Defecten die binnen 6 maanden ontstaan worden verondersteld al aanwezig te zijn.

Kan ik rente eisen over schulden?

Ja, je kunt wettelijke rente eisen (momenteel ongeveer 8% per jaar) over het openstaande bedrag.

Wat kan ik doen tegen oneerlijke handelspraktijken?

Je kunt klacht indienen bij de consumentenbond, de overheid of naar de rechter gaan.

Wat is een kredietovereenkomst?

Een kredietovereenkomst regelt hoe je geld leent, wat de rente is, en hoe je dit terugbetaalt.