Application of the Cost-Sharing Norm in Rijswijk

The cost-sharing norm in Rijswijk describes how the Municipality of Rijswijk adjusts the social assistance benefit when multiple adults in a household share living expenses. This mechanism, designed for a fairer distribution of costs, affects the benefit amount when you live with others in Rijswijk who have their own income. In this article, we explain how it works, including local procedures, laws, examples, and your options for support through agencies such as the Legal Aid Office Rijswijk.

What does the cost-sharing norm mean for Rijswijk?

In Rijswijk, the cost-sharing norm is part of social assistance that reduces the benefit based on the number of adult 'cost-sharers' in your home. These are individuals over 21 years old living with you and able to cover their own expenses, such as through employment or their own benefits. The principle is that they contribute to shared costs like rent in Rijswijk and daily groceries, which lowers the full benefit.

This rule not only impacts social assistance but also allowances under the Participation Act. For an overview of the cost-sharing norm for social assistance in Rijswijk, see our article on the cost-sharing norm for social assistance. Here, we focus on how it is applied locally in everyday scenarios.

Legal basis of the cost-sharing norm in Rijswijk

The cost-sharing norm in Rijswijk is regulated under the Participation Act (Pw), specifically Article 31, paragraph 3. This states that the benefit for a single person or single parent with children under 18 is 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).

If there is more than one cost-sharer, the reduction applies to each, but the benefit cannot fall below the social minimum. For allowances, the General Act on Income-Dependent Schemes (Awir) applies, with a similar norm for housing and care allowances. The Central Appeals Board (CRvB) has ruled in cases like 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 or children under 21 are exempt; other rules, such as the partner assessment, apply. In Rijswijk, you can seek advice from the Legal Aid Office Rijswijk about these exceptions.

How does the Municipality of Rijswijk apply the cost-sharing norm?

The cost-sharing norm in Rijswijk begins with the application or review of your social assistance benefit. The Municipality of Rijswijk checks your household through the Basic Registration of Persons (BRP) and additional information. They assess:

Whether the person is 21 years or older.
Whether there is a joint household: meaning mutual care and shared living arrangements (short stays do not count).
Whether the cost-sharer meets income and asset thresholds without receiving their own social assistance.

The procedure in Rijswijk includes:

Registration: The Municipality of Rijswijk includes the reduction in the decision letter.
Assessing exceptions: In situations like participant disability, the norm may be delayed (Article 31, paragraph 4 of the Pw).
Recalculation: Report any changes in your household, such as a move, immediately to the Municipality of Rijswijk for a new calculation.

For housing allowance, the Tax Authority applies a similar adjustment: a 10% reduction per additional cost-sharer starting from the second.

Practical examples of the cost-sharing norm in Rijswijk

To make the cost-sharing norm in Rijswijk more concrete, here are some local examples:

Example 1: Adult studying daughter living at home. Ms. Van Dijk from Rijswijk 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 Rijswijk reduces the benefit by €214.07 monthly. If the daughter had her own social assistance, this could be avoided.

Example 2: Brother with a job in Rijswijk. Mr. Khan shares his home in Rijswijk with his 26-year-old brother, who earns an average salary. The Municipality of Rijswijk considers him a cost-sharer, resulting in a benefit reduction of €214.07. If the brother moves out, the benefit is fully restored.

Example 3: Exception due to health issues. Mr. Jansen's son in Rijswijk is disabled and receives a WIA benefit below the minimum; after individual assessment, the Municipality of Rijswijk does not apply the norm.

These cases show that the application in Rijswijk depends on personal circumstances. For more information on joint household or applying for social assistance in Rijswijk.

Rights and obligations under the cost-sharing norm in Rijswijk

Your rights

You have the right to demand a clear explanation in the Municipality of Rijswijk's decision. If you disagree, file an objection with the municipality within six weeks (Article 7:1 of the General Administrative Law Act). If denied, appeal to the Rijswijk 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. The Legal Aid Office Rijswijk provides free assistance with objection procedures.

Your obligations

Report any household changes immediately to the Municipality of Rijswijk (Article 70 of the Pw), or you risk recovery or a fine. In Rijswijk, the municipality offers reporting forms via their website or counter.

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.