Consequences of cohabitation when providing informal care for benefits

Cohabiting to care for someone can have consequences for benefits and an allowance. Sometimes an organization then looks differently at your income or household. It is wise to have this checked in advance, so you do not have to pay money back later.

What happens to my benefits if someone moves in with you?

If you start living together, this can have consequences for benefits. You can look at what changes in your living situation and report this if necessary.

What does moving in mean for social assistance benefits?

The cost-sharing norm means that a social assistance benefit can be lower if more adults live in one house. The idea is that housing costs are then shared. For informal caregivers, there is an important exception to this.

Are you temporarily moving in with someone you care for? Then that person may keep his or her full social assistance benefit. You do not count as a cost sharer. This also applies the other way around. If you care for someone who moves in with you, you will not lose your benefit because of the cost-sharing norm.

Any reimbursement, care income, or meals you receive as an informal caregiver also do not count toward social assistance. Payment from a personal budget (pgb) does count as income, however, and can have consequences for social assistance. So report changes and ask for a written explanation before drawing conclusions about your benefit.

The effect depends on your personal situation, and the municipality administers social assistance.

What changes for help from the municipality?

If you want to continue living at home longer because of care, a home adaptation can help. Think of a stair lift, a shower chair, or removing thresholds. In Zoetermeer you request this through the Wmo.

You then file a Wmo report with your municipality. Together with you, they look at what is needed, often with a home visit. You receive a decision and pay a personal contribution via the CAK.

If living at home is no longer possible, there are other forms. For example, there is supported living or sheltered housing. If you want to live closer together in order to continue the care, a caregiver home is sometimes an option. The local access point or independent client support can help you list the possibilities.

Household help can also change. The municipality assesses the situation. Household help is not automatically granted because someone provides informal care. If the situation changes, for example due to moving or death, discuss with the municipality what that means for the existing help. An assessment does not automatically transfer to a housemate.

What help is there in Zoetermeer for money worries and arranging things?

In Zoetermeer there are arrangements if money is tight. The ZoetermeerPas offers discounts on activities, sports, and culture. It is available for households with an income up to 120% of the social assistance norm. For children up to 18 years old, there is the Kindpakket via Stichting Leergeld, for example for school supplies, a bicycle, or swimming lessons.

For special, necessary costs, you can apply for special assistance. If you are struggling financially or have debts, there is free help with finances and debt counseling. You apply for these arrangements and this help through your municipality.

For administration, a volunteer for home administration can help. They can organize mail, map out income and expenses, and set up a fixed way of keeping track. If debts are involved, they can also help with the step to professional debt assistance. Only share documents that are necessary for your request.

A caregiver coordinator can help with complicated administrative tasks, applications, and combining work and care. That help is not automatically free. Some supplemental health insurance policies reimburse a number of hours. Check this with your insurer beforehand.

Register as an informal caregiver with Mantelzorg Zoetermeer. That is part of the application. It also gives access to additional arrangements for informal caregivers in Zoetermeer, such as liability insurance and a household-help allowance, as well as workshops and the MantelKRACHT magazine. An informal care coordinator from Mantelzorg Zoetermeer helps with the application free of charge.

What can you do next?

Are you unsure what your situation does to your benefit? Discuss it with your municipality. Ask for a written explanation right away. Then you will know better where you stand.

For money questions or debts, you can contact the municipal debt counseling service in Zoetermeer free of charge and without obligation. You can also fill in the help form. After that, you discuss what help is needed. Sometimes advice is enough. For further help, you will receive a form and relevant information will be requested.

In an urgent situation, it is important to discuss this with debt counseling right away. The application does not guarantee a specific outcome or start date. If you need help filling it in, form-filling help or current help with administration in Zoetermeer can help.

Do you not know which arrangement applies to you? Feel free to call Mantelzorg Zoetermeer or contact the Wmo desk of your municipality. Independent client support can think along with you free of charge.