Application of the Cost-Sharing Norm in Tilburg
The cost-sharing norm in Tilburg explains how the Municipality of Tilburg adjusts social assistance benefits when multiple adults in a household share fixed expenses. This policy, designed to encourage a fairer distribution of costs, impacts the benefit amount if you live with others in Tilburg who have their own income. In this article, we explore how it works, including local procedures, laws, practical examples, and your options for support through organizations like the Legal Aid Office Tilburg.
What does the cost-sharing norm in Tilburg entail?
The cost-sharing norm is a component of social assistance that reduces benefits based on the number of adult 'cost-sharers' in your Tilburg household. These are individuals aged 21 or older who live with you and can cover their own expenses, such as through employment or their own benefits. The idea is that they contribute to shared costs like rent in the city and daily necessities, which lowers the full benefit amount.
This norm affects not only social assistance but also allowances under the Participation Act. For a simple overview of the cost-sharing norm for social assistance in Tilburg, see our article on the cost-sharing norm for social assistance. Here, we focus on its everyday application in Tilburg situations.
Legal basis of the cost-sharing norm
The application of the cost-sharing norm is outlined in the Participation Act (Pw), specifically Article 31, paragraph 3. This states that benefits for a single person or single parent with children under 18 are 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 deduction applies to each, but the benefit cannot fall below the social minimum. For allowances like housing and healthcare benefits, the General Act on Income-Dependent Schemes (Awir) applies, with a similar provision. The Central Appeals Board (CRvB) has ruled in cases such as ECLI:NL:CRVB:2019:1234 that the norm only applies in a 'joint household' as defined in Article 3:7 of the Civil Code.
Note: Partners and children under 21 are exempt; other rules, such as the partner assessment, apply to them. In Tilburg, you can seek advice on these exceptions from the Legal Aid Office Tilburg.
How does the Municipality of Tilburg apply the cost-sharing norm?
The cost-sharing norm is implemented when applying for or reviewing your social assistance benefit by the Municipality of Tilburg. They check your household through the Basic Registration of Persons (BRP) and additional information. Key criteria include:
- Whether the person is 21 years or older.
- Whether a joint household exists: this implies mutual care and shared daily life (mere cohabitation without ties does not count).
- Whether the cost-sharer meets income and asset rules but does not receive social assistance.
The process in Tilburg involves:
- Registration: The Municipality of Tilburg includes the reduction in the decision on your benefit.
- Exception check: In situations like a participant's disability, the norm may be delayed (Article 31, paragraph 4 of the Pw).
- Adjustment: Report any changes in your household, such as a move, immediately to the Municipality of Tilburg; the calculation will then be recalculated.
For housing benefits, the tax authority applies a similar 10% reduction per additional cost-sharer starting from the second person, which has an extra impact in Tilburg due to its high rental prices.
Examples of the cost-sharing norm in Tilburg
To make the application of the cost-sharing norm more concrete, here are some practical examples from Tilburg:
Example 1: Adult student child. Ms. Van Dijk from Tilburg 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 financial contribution, the Municipality of Tilburg reduces the benefit by €214.07 monthly. If the daughter were receiving social assistance, this would not occur.
Example 2: Live-in family member with a job. Mr. Kumar shares his home in Tilburg with his 26-year-old nephew, who earns a steady salary. The nephew counts as a cost-sharer, so Mr. Kumar's benefit decreases by €214.07. If the nephew moves out, the full benefit is restored.
Example 3: Exception due to health. The live-in son of Mr. Jansen in Tilburg is disabled and receives a WIA benefit below the minimum; in this case, the norm is not applied. The Municipality of Tilburg assesses such cases individually.
These examples show how the norm depends on personal factors in Tilburg. For more information on joint households or applying for social assistance in Tilburg.
Rights and obligations under the cost-sharing norm in Tilburg
Your rights
You are entitled to a clear explanation in the decision from the Municipality of Tilburg. 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 District Court of Zeeland-West-Brabant in Breda. The CRvB often rules in your favor if the joint household is not established. You can also request provisional repayment if the norm was incorrectly applied. The Legal Aid Office Tilburg provides free support for objections.
Your obligations
Report any changes in your household immediately to the Municipality of Tilburg (Article 70 of the Pw), or you risk recovery of benefits or a fine.
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.