From welfare to work

From welfare to work

Do you receive Social assistance benefit benefits from our municipality? Then you must do everything you can to find work. Social assistance is only a temporary safety net. Work always takes precedence over benefits. If you can work somewhere, you must accept it. The work does not have to match your education, experience and wishes. You must also accept temporary employment, part-time work or work through an employment agency. However, the work must suit your workload. These obligations are linked to the Participation Act.

Reintegration support

Are you unable to find work independently or are you unable to work (yet)? Then the municipality can help you increase your chances of finding work. Your work consultant from the municipality will assess what is needed. Note! Cooperating with the support offered by the municipality is not without obligation. You are obliged to cooperate in the assistance.

Waiver of obligations

On welfare, it is obligatory to actively seek work. There may be circumstances under which this obligation temporarily does not apply Your work consultant may decide to temporarily exempt you from the work obligation. The reintegration obligation will still apply. Only if you can prove that you are permanently and completely disabled, this obligation also lapses. You will only have dispensation from the work obligation after receiving a decision thereof.

Volunteer

Do you receive Social assistance benefit benefits and want to volunteer? You can contact the municipality or the volunteer job board. They can refer you to institutions where you can do approved volunteer work. Or you can search on your own. Once you have found volunteer work, contact your contact person at the municipality. The municipality will then see if the volunteer work can be approved. Your volunteer work should not get in the way of finding a paid job.

What can you expect from the municipality when you start working (part-time)?

Childcare

If you have young children to care for, the Tax Office and the municipality will pay the cost of your children's care. You can apply for the childcare allowance from the Tax Office. You are eligible for this if you are working or on a pathway to work. The municipality reimburses the remaining costs of childcare, excluding a fixed contribution. This is possible as long as you receive a benefit from the municipality.

Income release

If you receive income, your benefits will be reduced. Do you find a part-time job and does this work contribute to your employment? The municipality can then release part of the income. You will then keep more money from the benefit each month for six months. Check with your employment counselor to see if you qualify.

Outflow premium

Have you received a Social assistance benefit benefit for 12 months and have been working for 6 months in the meantime? Then you may be eligible for a one-time premium of €500. Ask about the Requirements with your work consultant.

Requirements 

You can apply for a severance payment if you:

  • You are 27 years of age or older and have received benefits from the municipality for at least 12 consecutive months;
  • and, as a result of having a job, has not needed benefits for at least 6 months.

Young people up to age 27 are also eligible for a transition bonus. This applies if, with the help of a wage subsidy, they make a sustainable (partial) transition out of the Participation Act. 

When should you apply for the premium?

Apply for the exit bonus between 7 and 12 months after your benefits stopped due to income from work.