1Benefits in a nutshell
- 1Estimatethis year's income
- 2Monthly advancepaid in advance
- 3Updatewhen income or household changes
- 4Final settlementafter your tax return
2Healthcare allowance (zorgtoeslag)
€129maximum per month, single
€40,857income limit, single
€146,011asset limit, single
3Rent allowance (huurtoeslag)
- Rent counted
- Basic rent up to €933 a month; since 2026 a higher rent no longer rules you out
- Basic rent only
- Service costs such as cleaning or energy do not count
- Income threshold, single
- €23,425; above it the allowance falls by 27% of the excess
- Income threshold, more people
- €31,500; above it 22% of the excess
| Rent allowance per month | |
|---|---|
| €20,000 | €427 |
| €25,000 | €391 |
| €30,000 | €279 |
4Child budget (kindgebonden budget)
- Per child under 12
- €2,580 a year
- Per child aged 12 to 15
- €3,304 a year
- Per child aged 16 to 17
- €3,544 a year
- Single-parent extra
- €3,416 a year
- Phase-out
- 7.6% of household income above €39,141 (€29,736 single)
| Child budget per year | |
|---|---|
| €40,000 | €5,095 |
| €60,000 | €3,575 |
| €80,000 | €2,055 |
5Childcare allowance (kinderopvangtoeslag)
Covers a large part of the cost of registered childcare when both parents work, study or follow a re-integration path. It depends on household income, hours and the hourly rate up to a maximum. Apply within three months of the start.
6Who can apply
You need0 of 5 done
7Mistakes that lead to paying back
Do
- Estimate your income on the high side if it varies
- Report a new partner, move or rent change within four weeks
- Update the estimate after a raise, bonus or new job
- Check the final settlement against your tax return
Avoid
- Assuming last year's estimate is still right
- Forgetting a partner's income or savings
- Ignoring the asset limits
- Letting a repayment surprise you: set money aside if unsure
8Common questions
Can I get benefits as an expat?
Yes, if you live here legally and meet the conditions, whatever your nationality.
Do benefits affect my residence permit?
For some permits, relying on public funds can matter. Healthcare and rent allowance usually do not count for this, but check with the IND for your permit.
What if I have to pay back?
You can usually pay in instalments. Ask for a payment arrangement straight away.
Which benefits might I be missing?
Try the benefits checker.
Sources
This article is based on these official pages. If anything here differs from them, the official page is right.
- Wat zijn de voorwaarden voor zorgtoeslag? (in Dutch)
- Kan ik huurtoeslag krijgen? (in Dutch)
- Hoe moet ik kinderopvangtoeslag aanvragen? (in Dutch)
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