Objection and appeal in case of rejection of housing costs assistance in Utrecht
Was your application for exceptional assistance for housing costs rejected by the municipality of Utrecht? You have legal remedies. The municipality of Utrecht must always properly motivate the rejection, in accordance with the Participation Act and local rules.
Objection procedure with the municipality of Utrecht
- Time limit: Submit your objection within 6 weeks after the date of dispatch to the municipality of Utrecht, via the Loket Werken en Inkomen or PO Box 16200, 3500 HE Utrecht.
- Content: Explain why the rejection is unjustified, with new evidence such as recent rental agreements from Utrecht neighbourhoods like Kanaleneiland or Overvecht, or evidence of high housing costs due to the Utrecht rental market.
- Course: The municipality reconsiders your objection within 6-12 weeks. In Utrecht, you can check the status via the online portal Mijn Utrecht.
Appeal to the court
If the objection is rejected, you can appeal within 6 weeks to the District Court of Midden-Nederland, Bestuursrecht sector in Utrecht (Alexander Numankade 11). Legal assistance is free of charge via legal expenses insurance or subsidized legal aid from the Council for Legal Aid. Success depends on factual errors, such as incorrect income calculation or incorrect assessment of Utrecht rental prices. Winning examples from Utrecht cases: incorrect asset estimation under minimum savings rules or failure to take into account exceptional costs for energy allowance in older homes. Document everything carefully and consider free advice from the Juridisch Loket Utrecht. (248 words)