Money & Arrangements

You are entitled to living allowance from the municipality of Amersfoort, if: 

• you are registered in our Personal Records Database [Basisregistratie Personen]
• and have a citizen service number (BSN) and
• you are staying in the municipal reception centre or with a host family in Amersfoort and
• you have no income of your own.

Check the amount of money and the rules on refugeehelp.nl/living-allowance. You can also find them on the national government’s website.

Applications

If you meet those four conditions, you can apply for living allowance: send an email to leefgeld@amersfoort.nland make an appointment at the town hall. The address is Stadhuisplein 3. All family members must attend the appointment. Bring your identity document and your BSN number. (You will receive your BSN when you register in the BRP at the town hall.

Payment of living allowance

You need your own, Dutch bank account (see below). The municipality transfers the living allowance on the first Tuesday or Thursday of the month. Are you underage? The municipality pays the living allowance to your parent or carer.

If your situation changes

If your situation changes, you must do the following:

• If you move to a different address, you must inform the municipality. This also applies if you are leaving the Netherlands temporarily, because you can only be absent for a maximum of 28 days a year and still receive your living allowance.
• You must also inform the municipality if you start working and start receiving an income. If you earn more than the amount of living allowance you are receiving, you will then no longer be entitled to the living allowance. If you earn less, the municipality will supplement the living allowance. Therefore, report even minor changes in your income immediately, otherwise you will have to repay it later.
• If an adult family member has sufficient income from paid work or receives a benefit, such as unemployment benefit, the living allowance will be stopped not only for the refugee, but for the whole family.
• You should inform the municipality of these changes as soon as possible, and in any event within 7 days, by sending an email to leefgeld@amersfoort.nl.

Check 

Refugees who have been receiving living allowance from the municipality for some time may receive an invitation for an interview. The municipality will then discuss whether you have any income and whether you are still entitled to (additional) living allowance. Please note: if you do not come to the appointment, the municipality may stop your living allowance!

Questions about the living allowance

If you have questions about the living allowance, you can also email leefgeld@amersfoort.nl.

You will need your own Dutch bank account for more and more things, for example for your living allowance. So open a personal bank account as soon as possible and inform the municipality of this. If you only have a Ukrainian bank account number and debit card, this may result in additional costs. In that case, it is better to open a Dutch bank account.

It differs from bank to bank what you need to open a bank account, and which identity documents the bank accepts. You can find more information at refugeehelp.nl/open-a-bank-account. Can't work it out? Ask VluchtelingenWerk or your community coach in your reception centre for advice. See Questions and contact.

Do you have your own income from, for example, work, benefits or allowances and are you staying in a municipal reception centre? Then you must pay a co-payment every month for water, gas, electricity and other operating costs. Exactly how much depends on your personal circumstances. You will receive a letter from the municipality regarding this automatically.

Has your income changed? Please forward this information to eigenbijdrage@amersfoort.nl.

You can read more information on RefugeeHelp - contributing to reception costs where you can find information about the national scheme. In addition, information videos are available in Ukrainian and Dutch. More detailed, nationwide information is available at Co-payment for refugees from Ukraine | Reception of refugees from Ukraine | Rijksoverheid.nl

When you start working in the Netherlands, your financial situation changes.

Pension 

When you work in the Netherlands, you accrue pension rights. This consists of:

1. Dutch National Old Age Pensions Act (AOW) You will receive this from the age of 67
2. Supplementary pension through your employer

You can find more information at: refugeehelp.nl/pensioen-opbouwen-in-nederland

Benefit

If you have worked in paid employment for longer than 23 weeks and are dismissed through no fault of your own, Then you can apply for an unemployment benefit. You can find more information at the (Dutch) website of the UWV.

Tax

Working people in the Netherlands have to pay income tax.

• Read how this works at refugeehelp.nl/taxes.

Do you have questions for the Tax Administration? You can make an appointment at the Support Centre Tax Administration at the city hall, through the Support Centres Tax Administration. If you need help filling in forms, you can go to: The information shops of Indebuurt033

Sometimes you are entitled to benefits from the Tax Administration. A benefit is a monthly sum you receive from the Tax Administration to pay specific costs.

For example, if you work and have children, you can receive various benefits. Read more about Benefits if you have children - RefugeeHelp

Please note: 

Sometimes you must repay (part of) those benefits. For example:

• because your spouse is still in Ukraine or is also coming to the Netherlands;
• because your income is increasing;
• because you lose your job.

So be cautious when applying and always report any changes immediately! Any questions? Feel free to visit VluchtelingenWerk (contact details at the bottom of this newsletter) or at www.indebuurt033.nl/informatiewinkels

Child benefit

If you are in paid employment and have children, you may then be entitled to child benefit, which is extra money to cover costs. Applications are submitted via Dutch Social Insurance Bank (SVB).

Child budget

Families with a low income can also apply for an additional child budget. Applications are made via the Benefits Office of the Tax Administration. Subsequently, single-parent families may be entitled to an extra allowance (ALO-kop).

Childcare benefit

If you work and your child goes to registered childcare, you may also be able to get childcare benefit. Applications are made via the Benefits Office of the Tax Administration.

Other allowances

In exceptional situations, you can also receive healthcare benefit (with your own health insurance) or housing benefit (when living independently). Read more about it on General allowances - RefugeeHelp