New rules concerning gifts when receiving a social assistance benefit
Until now, all changes that affected your social assistance benefit had to be passed on the local authority. As of 1 January 2026, this is no longer necessary. However, it is important that you keep track yourself of everything you receive or earn. What does this mean to you?
Gifts
A gift is money or things you get for free, without requiring you do something in return. Some examples:
- Someone gives you a bag filled with groceries.
- Someone gives you money (on your bank account).
- Someone gifts you a weekend trip.
- Someone pays for your healthcare insurance.
Keeping track of gifts yourself
You no longer have to inform us about all gifts. However, it is important you keep track of them yourself. We have created a registration form (opens in new tab) for you. You can use this form to keep track of your gifts.
What do you pass on
Is the monetary value of your gifts more than €1,200.00 per year? You will need to inform us of this. Does the monetary value of your gifts not exceed € 1,200.00? Then you do not have to inform us.
Assets
Assets are, for example, your savings. Or the value of a car or home. However, investments or crypto (digital currency you can only use online) are also a form of assets.
What do you pass on
Do you assets exceed the following amounts? You will need to inform us of this:
- €8,000.00 for single persons.
- €16,000.00 for married persons or single parents.
Keep track of your assets yourself, which you can do using the registration form of the local authority.
Debts
Do you have debts? If so, you may deduct these from your assets. However, you must then be able to prove that you will pay back these debts. Student debts or debts to family members or friends may not be deducted from your assets.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I need to keep track of my gifts and assets as of January 2026?
The rules in the Participation Act have been eased. This means there is less information you need to inform us about. We want to grant you more trust and make things simpler for you.
Why is it important I know about the gifts I receive?
The local authority has to know how many gifts you receive. If the monetary value exceeds €1,200.00 per year, this may affect your assets. If your assets exceed a certain amount, you may lose your entitlement to a social assistance benefit.
What are gifts?
Gifts are things you received without having to do anything in return. This could be money, but also physical things, like a bicycle, washing machine or groceries. When someone pays for your healthcare insurance or car insurance or someone pays for you to go on a weekend trip, that is also a gift.
Where should I write down my gifts?
You can keep track of gifts yourself in a notebook or you can use the registration form (opens in new tab) of the local authority.
Can I get help filling out the registration form?
Certainly. Contact the City of Leeuwarden. You can also visit the Meedenkpunt of the City of Leewarden or go to a district or village community centre nearby. An employee will be happy to help.
You can find additional questions and answers about the changes to your social assistance benefit in the Social assistance benefit FAQ document.
Questions
Contact the City of Leeuwarden. Please also do so if you doubt if something is a gift, asset or debt.
Quick to:
Gifts
A gift is money or things you get for free, without requiring you do something in return. Some examples:
- Someone gives you a bag filled with groceries.
- Someone gives you money (on your bank account).
- Someone gifts you a weekend trip.
- Someone pays for your healthcare insurance.
Keeping track of gifts yourself
You no longer have to inform us about all gifts. However, it is important you keep track of them yourself. We have created a registration form (opens in new tab) for you. You can use this form to keep track of your gifts.
What do you pass on
Is the monetary value of your gifts more than €1,200.00 per year? You will need to inform us of this. Does the monetary value of your gifts not exceed € 1,200.00? Then you do not have to inform us.
Assets
Assets are, for example, your savings. Or the value of a car or home. However, investments or crypto (digital currency you can only use online) are also a form of assets.
What do you pass on
Do you assets exceed the following amounts? You will need to inform us of this:
- €8,000.00 for single persons.
- €16,000.00 for married persons or single parents.
Keep track of your assets yourself, which you can do using the registration form of the local authority.
Debts
Do you have debts? If so, you may deduct these from your assets. However, you must then be able to prove that you will pay back these debts. Student debts or debts to family members or friends may not be deducted from your assets.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I need to keep track of my gifts and assets as of January 2026?
The rules in the Participation Act have been eased. This means there is less information you need to inform us about. We want to grant you more trust and make things simpler for you.
Why is it important I know about the gifts I receive?
The local authority has to know how many gifts you receive. If the monetary value exceeds €1,200.00 per year, this may affect your assets. If your assets exceed a certain amount, you may lose your entitlement to a social assistance benefit.
What are gifts?
Gifts are things you received without having to do anything in return. This could be money, but also physical things, like a bicycle, washing machine or groceries. When someone pays for your healthcare insurance or car insurance or someone pays for you to go on a weekend trip, that is also a gift.
Where should I write down my gifts?
You can keep track of gifts yourself in a notebook or you can use the registration form (opens in new tab) of the local authority.
Can I get help filling out the registration form?
Certainly. Contact the City of Leeuwarden. You can also visit the Meedenkpunt of the City of Leewarden or go to a district or village community centre nearby. An employee will be happy to help.
You can find additional questions and answers about the changes to your social assistance benefit in the Social assistance benefit FAQ document.
Questions
Contact the City of Leeuwarden. Please also do so if you doubt if something is a gift, asset or debt.