Benefits in the Netherlands: applying for zorgtoeslag and huurtoeslag

Sources checked on 18 October 2026 · 6 min read

Toeslagen are government allowances towards basic costs. Your employer and your municipality do not pay them: the Benefits Agency does. They are paid in advance each month based on the income you estimate, then recalculated against your actual income. So the key is to apply with realistic figures and report any change.

Dutch terms in this guide: toeslagen, zorgtoeslag, huurtoeslag, toeslagpartner, proefberekening, Mijn toeslagen, voorschotbeschikking, vermogen, zelfstandige woonruimte, kale huur

Who this is for

People living in the Netherlands who pay Dutch health insurance or rent. The nationality and residence conditions also apply to your benefit partner and, for huurtoeslag, to the people you live with.

What you need

DigiD, to log in to Mijn toeslagen or the Toeslagen app.
An estimate of your gross income for the year (and your benefit partner's, if you have one).
Your assets on 1 January (savings and investments, among others).
For huurtoeslag: your tenancy agreement, the rent excluding service charges and registration at that address.

What they are and how they differ

	Zorgtoeslag	Huurtoeslag
What for	Paying your health insurance premium	Paying your rent
Key condition	Dutch health insurance and aged 18 or over	Renting a self-contained home and being registered there, aged 18 or over
Income 2026	Up to €40,857 a year (€51,142 with a benefit partner)	No fixed limit: depends on rent, age and household
Assets on 1 Jan 2026	Up to €146,011 (€184,633 with a benefit partner)	Up to €38,479 per person (€76,958 for a couple)

2026 amounts from the Benefits Agency, checked on 18 October 2026. They change every year.

Your toeslagpartner (benefit partner) is usually your spouse or the partner you live with (the exact rules are on the Benefits Agency website); their income and assets count together with yours.

Zorgtoeslag: help with health insurance

According to the Benefits Agency, in 2026 you may be entitled if:

you are 18 or over and have Dutch health insurance (you can only apply once it is in place);
your 2026 income is no more than €40,857 (€51,142 with a benefit partner);
your assets on 1 January 2026 are no more than €146,011 (€184,633 with a benefit partner).

You also need Dutch nationality or legal residence, and so does your benefit partner. If you are insured in another country (for example with a European Health Insurance Card) and have no Dutch policy, you are not eligible.

Huurtoeslag: help with rent

Conditions according to the Benefits Agency:

aged 18 or over;
a self-contained home (zelfstandige woonruimte): its own lockable front door, kitchen, toilet and, since March 2024, a shower or bath. A room with a shared kitchen or bathroom usually does not qualify, with some exceptions;
a tenancy agreement, and rent payments you can prove with bank statements;
you and everyone living with you registered at that address with the municipality;
Dutch nationality or legal residence (also for your benefit partner and anyone aged 18 or over living with you);
income and assets that are not too high (assets on 1 Jan 2026: up to €38,479 per person; €76,958 for a couple).

Changes since 2026: a high rent no longer rules you out; rent only counts up to €932.93 a month when calculating the benefit (€498.20 for under-21s). It is based on the rent without service charges (kale huur). Houseboats and holiday homes usually do not qualify.

How to apply

Run the official test calculation (proefberekening): it is anonymous and shows roughly whether you qualify and how much.
Log in to Mijn toeslagen with DigiD (or use the Toeslagen app) and apply.
You will receive an advance decision (voorschotbeschikking) and monthly payments.
You only apply once: if you still meet the conditions, it continues the next year (Benefits Agency).
Deadline: zorgtoeslag and huurtoeslag for 2025 can be claimed until 31 December 2026. Apply as early as you can so you do not lose months.

Reporting changes and avoiding repayments

The Benefits Agency asks you to report changes that affect your benefit within 4 weeks, in Mijn toeslagen or the app. You do not need to repeat what you already report to your municipality, such as a move.

New job or pay change: update your estimated income for the year; you will see the new amount straight away.
New home or new rent: check your huurtoeslag; if the new home does not qualify, stop it yourself within 4 weeks.
Moving in with or separating from a partner: update your benefit partner.
Leaving the Netherlands or giving up Dutch insurance: stop the benefit.

Once your actual income for the year is known, the Benefits Agency makes the final calculation. If you received too much, you will have to pay it back (often because the estimated income was too low); if you received too little, you get the difference.

What changes in 2027

On 15 October 2026 the Benefits Agency announced that from 1 January 2027 the asset limits for zorgtoeslag go down to €119,122 without a partner and €158,748 with a benefit partner (in 2026: €146,011 and €184,633). If your assets on 1 January 2027 exceed them, you must report it by 8 December 2026. The 2027 income limits are published at the end of the year.

Steps

Check whether you meet the conditions for each benefit (table above).
Run the official test calculation with your income and assets.
Apply in Mijn toeslagen with DigiD.
Keep the advance decision and check the income shown on it.
Report any change within 4 weeks.
Check the final calculation when it arrives and pay or receive the difference.

Common mistakes

Underestimating your income to get more: you will have to pay it back.
Forgetting to include your benefit partner's income.
Applying for huurtoeslag for a room without its own kitchen or bathroom: it usually does not qualify.
Not being registered at the address you claim huurtoeslag for.
Paying someone to apply for you: it is free in Mijn toeslagen.

2026 amounts and conditions, checked on 18 October 2026 with the Benefits Agency. They change every year: check them in the official test calculation before applying.

Official sources

Deadlines, amounts and requirements change. Always check them with the source.

Frequently asked questions

Does claiming toeslagen affect my residence permit?

It depends on your nationality and type of permit: if you are not an EU citizen, check with the IND or an advice service first. This guide cannot answer it in general terms.

How much will I get?

It depends on your income, your assets and, for huurtoeslag, your rent, age and household. The official test calculation gives you a rough figure.

Can I claim for previous years?

For 2025, until 31 December 2026 (Benefits Agency). Earlier years can no longer be claimed.

What if I get my income wrong?

It is corrected in the final calculation: if you received too much, you pay it back. That is why you should update your income as soon as it changes.

Do I need to be registered with the municipality?

For huurtoeslag, yes: you and everyone living with you must be registered at the address of the home.