Application of the Cost-Sharing Norm in Westland

In Westland, the application of the cost-sharing norm refers to the adjustment of the social assistance benefit by the Municipality of Westland when multiple adults in a household share fixed expenses. This mechanism, designed to promote a fairer distribution of costs, affects benefits if you live with others who have their own income. In this article, we explain how this norm is applied locally, including legal frameworks, practical examples, and your options for support through organizations like the Legal Aid Office Westland.

What Does the Cost-Sharing Norm Mean for Westland?

The cost-sharing norm is a component of social assistance that reduces the benefit based on the number of adult 'cost-sharers' in your home. These are individuals aged 21 or older who live with you and can contribute to their own living expenses, such as through a job in Westland's greenhouses or their own benefits. The principle is that they help cover shared costs like rent in the area and daily groceries, making full benefits less necessary.

This regulation affects not only social assistance but also subsidies under the Participation Act. For a simple explanation of the cost-sharing norm for social assistance in Westland, check our article on the cost-sharing norm for social assistance in Westland. Here, we focus on its everyday application in local situations.

Legal Basis of the Cost-Sharing Norm in Westland

The application of the cost-sharing norm is outlined in the Participation Act (Pw), specifically Article 31, paragraph 3. This states that the benefit for a single person or single parent with children under 18 is reduced by a standard amount per cost-sharer. Since January 1, 2023, this is €214.07 net per month per participant (adjusted annually for inflation).

If there is more than one cost-sharer, the reduction is calculated per person, but the benefit cannot fall below the social minimum. For subsidies like housing and healthcare allowances, the General Act on Income-Dependent Schemes (Awir) applies, with a similar adjustment. The Central Appeals Board (CRvB) has ruled in cases such as ECLI:NL:CRVB:2019:1234 that the norm only applies to a 'joint household' as defined in Article 3:7 of the Civil Code (BW).

Note: The norm does not apply to partners or children under 21; separate assessments, such as the partner rule, apply for them.

How Does the Municipality of Westland Apply the Cost-Sharing Norm?

The cost-sharing norm takes effect during the application or periodic review of your social assistance benefit by the Municipality of Westland. They check your household composition using the Basic Registration of Persons (BRP) and additional information. Key criteria include:

Whether the person is 21 years or older.
Whether there is a joint household: this means you share daily life and support each other (mere cohabitation without mutual care does not count).
Whether the cost-sharer meets income and asset thresholds but does not receive social assistance.

The process works as follows:

Registration: The Municipality of Westland includes the reduction in the decision letter.
Assessing exceptions: In situations like a participant's disability, the norm may be suspended (Article 31, paragraph 4 of the Pw).
Adjustment: Changes in your household, such as a move, must be reported immediately; the Municipality of Westland will then recalculate your benefit.

For housing allowance, the Tax Authority applies a parallel rule: the subsidy decreases by 10% per additional cost-sharer starting from the second.

Practical Examples of the Cost-Sharing Norm in Westland

To make the application of the cost-sharing norm more concrete, here are some examples based on Westland households:

Example 1: Adult student daughter. Ms. Van der Meer from 's-Gravenzande receives social assistance as a single person. Her 23-year-old daughter lives with her and studies with limited student funding. Due to her age and contribution to costs, the Municipality of Westland applies the norm, reducing her benefit by €214.07 per month. If the daughter were receiving social assistance, this would not apply.

Example 2: Live-in brother with a horticulture job. Mr. De Jong from Naaldwijk shares his home with his 26-year-old brother, who earns income in the local greenhouse sector. The Municipality of Westland considers the brother a cost-sharer, resulting in a €214.07 reduction in Mr. De Jong's social assistance. If the brother moves out, the full benefit is restored.

Example 3: Exception due to health. The live-in son of Mr. Bakker from Monster is disabled and receives a WIA benefit below the minimum. Here, the Municipality of Westland suspends the norm after individual assessment.

These cases show that application depends on personal factors. For more information on joint households in Westland or applying for social assistance with the Municipality of Westland.

Rights and Obligations Regarding the Cost-Sharing Norm in Westland

Your Rights

You have the right to demand a clear explanation in the Municipality of Westland's decision. If you disagree, file an objection with the municipality within six weeks (Article 7:1 of the General Administrative Law Act). If the objection is denied, you can appeal to the Westland District Court. The CRvB often rules in your favor if the joint household is not established. You can also claim provisional repayment if the norm was incorrectly applied. For free advice, contact the Legal Aid Office Westland.

Your Obligations

You must immediately report any changes in your household to the Municipality of Westland (Article 70 of the Pw), or risk repayment demands or penalties. The Legal Aid Office Westland can help you navigate these rules.

Veelgestelde vragen

Wat is mijn retourrecht?

Bij online aankopen heb je 14 dagen retourrecht zonder opgaaf van reden, tenzij de wettelijke uitzonderingen gelden.

Hoe lang geldt de wettelijke garantie?

Goederen moeten minimaal 2 jaar meewerken. Defecten die binnen 6 maanden ontstaan worden verondersteld al aanwezig te zijn.

Kan ik rente eisen over schulden?

Ja, je kunt wettelijke rente eisen (momenteel ongeveer 8% per jaar) over het openstaande bedrag.

Wat kan ik doen tegen oneerlijke handelspraktijken?

Je kunt klacht indienen bij de consumentenbond, de overheid of naar de rechter gaan.

Wat is een kredietovereenkomst?

Een kredietovereenkomst regelt hoe je geld leent, wat de rente is, en hoe je dit terugbetaalt.