Application of the Cost-Sharing Norm in Leiden
The cost-sharing norm in Leiden explains how the Municipality of Leiden adjusts social assistance benefits when multiple adults in a household share expenses. This measure, designed to promote a fairer distribution of costs, affects the benefit amount if you live in Leiden with others who have their own income. In this article, we highlight how it works, including local rules, practical examples, and your options as a resident of Leiden.
What does the cost-sharing norm in Leiden entail?
The cost-sharing norm is a component of social assistance that reduces benefits based on the number of adult 'cost-sharers' in your household in Leiden. These are individuals aged 21 or older who live with you and are capable of supporting themselves, such as through employment or their own benefits. The principle is that they contribute to shared expenses, like rent in central Leiden or daily groceries, which reduces the need for full social assistance benefits.
This regulation affects not only benefits but also allowances under the Participation Act. For a simple explanation of the cost-sharing norm for social assistance in Leiden, see our article on the cost-sharing norm for social assistance in Leiden. Here, we focus on its everyday application in Leiden households.
Legal basis of the cost-sharing norm in Leiden
The application of the cost-sharing norm in Leiden is governed by the Participation Act (Pw), specifically Article 31, paragraph 3. This stipulates that benefits for a single person or single parent with children under 18 are reduced by a fixed amount per cost-sharer. Since January 1, 2023, this is €214.07 net per month per participant (adjusted annually for inflation).
For more than one cost-sharer, the reduction is calculated per person, but the benefit cannot fall below the social minimum. The General Act on Income-Related Schemes (Awir) applies to allowances like housing and healthcare benefits, 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.
Note: The norm does not apply to partners or children under 21; separate criteria apply, such as the partner rules.
How does the Municipality of Leiden apply the cost-sharing norm?
The cost-sharing norm in Leiden begins with the application or review of your social assistance benefits. The Municipality of Leiden checks your household using the Basic Registration of Persons (BRP) and additional information. They assess factors such as:
- Whether the person is 21 years or older.
- Whether there is a joint household: this requires mutual care and shared daily life (short stays do not count).
- Whether the cost-sharer meets income and asset thresholds without claiming benefits themselves.
The process in Leiden involves:
- Registration: The Municipality of Leiden includes the reduction in your decision letter.
- Assessing exceptions: In situations like participant disability, the norm may be temporarily suspended (Article 31, paragraph 4 of the Pw).
- Recalculation: Report any changes in your household, such as a move, immediately; the Municipality of Leiden will adjust your benefits accordingly.
For housing benefits, the Tax Authority applies a parallel rule: the allowance decreases by 10% per additional cost-sharer starting from the second.
Practical examples of the cost-sharing norm in Leiden
To make the application of the cost-sharing norm in Leiden more concrete, here are some local examples:
Example 1: Student daughter in Leiden. Ms. Van der Berg, a single social assistance recipient in the Stevenshof neighborhood, has her 22-year-old daughter living with her, who is studying with limited student funding. Due to her age and contributions, the Municipality of Leiden applies the norm, reducing her benefits by €214.07 per month. The daughter obtaining her own social assistance would prevent this.
Example 2: Live-in friend with a job. Mr. Khan from Leiden-Noord shares his home with a 24-year-old friend who earns an average salary. The Municipality of Leiden considers him a cost-sharer, resulting in a €214.07 reduction in Mr. Khan's benefits. If the friend moves out, the full benefits would be restored.
Example 3: Exception due to health. The son living with Mr. Jansen, who is disabled and receives a WIA benefit below the minimum, is exempt from the norm. The Municipality of Leiden must review such cases individually.
These examples show how the application in Leiden depends on personal circumstances. For more information on joint households in Leiden or applying for social assistance in Leiden.
Rights and obligations under the cost-sharing norm in Leiden
Your rights
You have the right to demand a clear explanation in the Municipality of Leiden's decision. Disagree? File an objection with the municipality within six weeks (Article 7:1 of the General Administrative Law Act). If denied, you can appeal to the Leiden 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 advice, contact the Leiden Legal Aid Office.
Your obligations
Report any household changes immediately to the Municipality of Leiden (Article 70 of the Pw), or you risk repayment 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.