Participation Act Westland: Transition from WWB and Local Amendments

In the municipality of Westland, the Participation Act replaced the Work and Social Assistance Act (WWB) as of 1 January 2015, with specific transitional law provisions for existing benefits. WWB beneficiaries in Westland retained their rights until reassessment by the Work and Income Team but were required to comply with stricter participation requirements, such as mandatory job application trajectories via Werkplein Westland. For young individuals (aged 18-27), the 'guarantee act' applies: a maximum of 2 years of benefits without employment, followed by intensive trajectories with local employers in the greenhouse horticulture sector, a key focus in Westland. Asset thresholds were tightened, and the one-time asset indication was abolished, with additional attention given to seasonal workers in greenhouses. The municipality of Westland gained more flexibility in activation measures, such as subsidies for retraining towards agricultural jobs. Amendments since then include: a 2020 standard increase due to inflation; a 2023 extension of the starter scheme for Westland-based horticulture starters. Wajong beneficiaries are integrated via Participation Act benefits with wage supplements, often linked to jobs at cooperatives such as Harvest House. Transitioning from WW to the Participation Act requires notification to the UWV and referral to Werkplein Westland. Older schemes such as IoW have been incorporated into broader trajectories via the regional Employment Service. Check your status via Werk.nl or the Westland app. This transition reduced benefit recipients in Westland by approximately 25% due to stricter assessments and local employment opportunities. For advice, contact the Westland Work and Income Team or the SVB. Historical context is helpful for ongoing matters in this horticultural municipality.