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Cost-sharing

Cost-sharing means that you receive lower social assistance if you live in the same home with other people. The more people that live in this home, the lower your benefits will be.

It does not matter how much income the other people have. If you live together, you can split the living costs. That is why the municipality assumes that you need less money.

When does cost-sharing apply?

Cost-sharing applies when you:

  • are 21 years or older and
  • live together with 1 or more cost-sharing cohabitants of 27 years or older. People younger than 27 are not seen as a cost-sharer.

Who is seen as a cost-sharing cohabitant?

  • Do you have social assistance and do you live with someone who is younger than 27? Then cost-sharing does not apply to you.
  • Do you have social assistance and do you live with someone who is 27 or older? Then cost-sharing does apply to you. The age limit to receive benefits stays 21 years.

Example cost-sharing

If cost-sharing applies or not entirely depends on who is on benefits and with who they live together.

Situation

A family consists of:

  • Father (49)
  • Mother (49)
  • Son (24)

All 3 receive social assistance and live together in 1 home.

For the parents

Cost-sharing does not apply to the parents.
Their son is younger than 27 and is therefore not seen as a cost-sharer.
The parents have a right to the usual married couple's allowance.

For the son

Cost-sharing does apply to the son.
He is older than 21 years and lives together with 2 adults over the age of 27.
Therefore, cost-sharing is applied and he will receive 43.33% of the married couple's allowance.

Summary

Cost-sharing does not apply to the parents, because they live together with a child younger than 27.
Cost-sharing does apply to the child, because he lives together with adults over the age of 27.

Exceptions for cost-sharing

Cost-sharing does not apply to:

  • People under the age of 27
  • People 27 or older who are studying and receive student finance
  • Students who follow a Beroeps Begeleidende Leerweg (BBL, vocational guidance programme)

If a child becomes 18 years old, their child benefits (kinderbijslag) and child-related budget (kindgebonden budget) stop. The child will then have to have their own health insurance and pay their excess.

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