Residents of Heerlen on social assistance are allowed to live together on a trial basis for a maximum of six months from 1 April, without this affecting their benefits.
With this measure, the municipality wants to provide financial assistance recipients with financial clarity.
Financial dependence
They currently lose their benefits if they move in with someone with an income or savings. This creates financial dependence on the partner. “That means that people on welfare cannot explore whether cohabitation works for them. They are therefore hesitant to start living together for fear of what that will do to their financial situation. That is why Heerlen is introducing cohabitation on a trial basis,” said alderman Peter van Zutphen. (SP).
fraud
The measure also results in financial savings for the municipality because it reduces the administrative burden. The municipality is not required to conduct any further investigation. The measure reduces the risk of fraud, the alderman believes.
Conditions
The most important condition to participate is that both partners, after permission from the municipality, keep their own home during the six months on a trial basis. They may also, for example, not have lived together before, make preparations for a marriage and not have one or more children together.
The trial will be evaluated after one year.