News item | 04-12-2023 | 13:35
To better assist people who need support in applying for or changing their benefits, the Benefits Department, the Tax Authorities and the national library have expanded their collaboration. People who need help applying for their benefits can already do so free of charge at 250 libraries. This will be expanded to 400 libraries in the coming period.
State Secretary Aukje de Vries (Benefits and Customs) and Lily Knibbeler, general director of the national library, today signed the cooperation agreement in the public library of Drachten.
The cooperation agreement that the Benefits Service, the Tax Authorities and the national library have jointly concluded will apply at least until 2027. The Benefits Service and the Tax Authorities have made an additional 2 million euros available, with which the libraries can organize support as best as possible. .
According to State Secretary Aukje de Vries of Finance, allowances are important support for many people to pay healthcare premiums, rent or childcare. “We know that there are also people who need support when applying for or changing their benefits. They can therefore go to their library for this. In this way we ensure that as many people as possible take advantage of the benefits they are entitled to.”
Applying for and changing allowances
Applying for a benefit is made as simple as possible. Many matters can easily be arranged and requested online. Applicants can go to MijnToeslagen for this. People who have difficulty arranging to apply for or change their benefits online can receive support. For example, at one of the counters and support points or via a Toeslagen service point: a network of permanent intermediaries with which Toeslagen collaborates. This includes assistance and service providers such as senior citizen associations, form brigades, local senior citizen organizations, social counselors and libraries. This way we prevent people from being faced with surprises.
Income support
Allowances provide important income support to help people pay healthcare, housing and childcare costs. 5.9 million households receive one or more allowances. Last year, this amounted to a total of 19 billion euros in benefits. It remains important that people who are entitled to benefits keep their details, and therefore their income, up to date and report any changes to the Benefits Department. By expanding the collaboration with the national library, the Benefits Department wants to make changing and applying for Benefits as easy as possible.