The Dutch government helps people with a low or middle income pay for health insurance, rent and children. This money is called an allowance (in Dutch: toeslag). Answer a few simple questions to see which allowances you can get, about how much, and how to avoid having to pay them back later.
It takes about 3 minutes. You don't need to log in, and your answers stay on your device.
We check these four allowances:
The Dienst Toeslagen, part of the Dutch tax office, pays all four.
With your result, we also point to other money you can probably get, such as child benefit (kinderbijslag), mortgage interest relief and tax credits for parents.
Estimate based on official Dienst Toeslagen rules for 2026. Not affiliated with the Dutch government. The Dienst Toeslagen decides your actual amount.
We follow the 2026 rules of the Dienst Toeslagen, checked on 22 October 2026. Your real allowance depends on your final income, your household as registered with your town, and the months in which you meet the conditions. Before you apply, check the result with the official test calculation (in Dutch). The word list below helps you fill it in.
You get the money every month, based on the income you expect. After the year ends, the Dienst Toeslagen checks your real income. If you earned more, you pay back the difference. That's why a careful, slightly high income estimate saves you a bill later.
The Dutch word is toetsingsinkomen. For most employees it's your gross salary including holiday allowance, minus your pension contribution and, with the 30% ruling, minus the tax-free part. In your first year it includes income from abroad.
If your savings were above the limit on 1 January, you get nothing for the whole year: there's no gradual reduction. In 2026 the limits are €146,011 for healthcare allowance and the child budget (€184,633 with a partner), and €38,479 per person for rent allowance.
The government's own test calculation (proefberekening) and the Mijn toeslagen website are only in Dutch. These are the words you'll meet:
Rules and amounts for 2026, checked on 22 October 2026. Official sources:
Dienst Toeslagen: Toeslagenkaart 2026 (PDF, Dutch)
How healthcare allowance is worked out in 2026 (PDF, Dutch)
How the child budget is worked out in 2026 (PDF, Dutch)
Regeling huurtoeslaggrenzen 2026 (Dutch) and the Wet op de huurtoeslag (Dutch)
Childcare allowance amounts 2026 (Dutch)
Who is your toeslagpartner (Dutch)
Small repayments and payment plans (Dutch)
Other money, checked on 23 October 2026: SVB child benefit amounts (Dutch), combination credit (Dutch), UWV paid parental leave (Dutch) and RVO ISDE subsidy (Dutch)
Yes, if you have Dutch basic health insurance, are 18 or older, live here legally and your income and savings are low enough. In 2026 the income limit is €40,857 for a single person and €51,142 with a partner. The most you can get is about €129 a month as a single person. Expat or international health insurance from abroad does not count.
Yes, it helps. Allowances are based on your income for allowances (toetsingsinkomen), and the tax-free part of your salary under the 30% ruling does not count. So with the ruling your income for allowances is lower than your salary. This often matters for couples with one income and families with children. From 2027 the tax-free part goes down from 30% to 27%, so your income for allowances will go up a little.
Sometimes. Allowances are paid in advance, based on the income you expect. After the year ends, the Dienst Toeslagen compares this with your real income. If you earned more, you pay back the difference. On the final calculation, an amount of €121 or less per allowance is not reclaimed. Larger amounts can be paid back in up to 24 months, with interest of 4.3% a year.
Yes. For the year you move here, the Dienst Toeslagen looks at your income for the whole calendar year, including what you earned abroad before you arrived. Many expats who earned a full salary abroad until the middle of the year find their income is too high for allowances that year.
No. The IND (immigration office) does not count healthcare, rent, childcare allowance or the child budget as living on welfare. But if your residence permit ends, your allowances stop, and you must pay back what you got after that date.
Usually not. You need a self-contained home with your own front door, kitchen, toilet and shower, and you must be registered at the address. Since 2026 there is no maximum rent any more, but only basic rent up to €932.93 a month counts in the calculation.
For healthcare allowance, rent allowance and the child budget, you can apply for 2026 until 31 December 2027. Apply for childcare allowance no later than 3 months after the childcare starts, or you lose the earlier months.
