Assistance repayment by ex-partner or parent

The municipality can require someone other than the person receiving assistance to repay the Social assistance benefit benefit. This is called "recovery of assistance.

The municipality can recover assistance from you if you do not fulfill your maintenance obligation. Maintenance obligation means that you help pay for another person's living expenses. You are obliged to provide financially for:

  • your child under 21 years of age
  • your (ex-)spouse
  • your (ex-)registered partner

If you fail to do so, and your child or (former) partner has Social assistance benefit benefits as a result, the municipality may decide that you must repay this assistance.

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How does it work?

The municipality may require you to repay assistance in the following situations:

  • You have children under the age of 21 and you do not contribute to their living expenses or do not contribute enough.
  • You are living separately from your spouse/registered partner and you are not paying or not paying enough for living expenses.
  • You are officially divorced and you are paying too little alimony or none at all.
  • You have received a gift from someone on welfare.
  • You received an inheritance from someone who was receiving too much welfare.
  • You received an inheritance from someone who was wrongfully receiving assistance.
  • You received an inheritance from someone who received assistance as a loan.