Application of the Cost-Sharing Norm in Utrecht

The cost-sharing norm in Utrecht describes how the Municipality of Utrecht reduces social assistance benefits when multiple adults in a household share living expenses. This regulation, aimed at a fairer distribution of costs, affects the benefit amount if you live with others who have income. In this article, we highlight its operation in the Utrecht context, including local procedures, laws, practical cases, and your options for assistance through organizations like Het Juridisch Loket Utrecht.

What is the Cost-Sharing Norm in Utrecht?

The cost-sharing norm is a component of social assistance that adjusts benefits based on the number of adult 'cost-sharers' in your household in Utrecht. These are individuals aged 21 or older who live with you and support themselves, such as through employment or their own benefits. The principle is that they contribute to shared costs like rent in a Utrecht home or daily groceries, which reduces your full benefits.

This norm affects not only benefits but also allowances under the Participation Act. For an introduction to the cost-sharing norm for social assistance in Utrecht, see our article on the cost-sharing norm for social assistance in Utrecht. Here, we focus on its everyday application in local situations, such as in the city's diverse neighborhoods.

Legal Basis of the Cost-Sharing Norm in Utrecht

The application of the cost-sharing norm in Utrecht is outlined in the Participation Act (Pw), specifically Article 31, paragraph 3. This states that benefits for a single person or a parent with children under 21 are reduced by a fixed amount per cost-sharer. Since January 1, 2023, this is €214.07 net per month per person (adjusted annually for inflation by the Municipality of Utrecht).

For multiple cost-sharers, the reduction applies per person, but the benefit must not fall below the social minimum. The General Act on Income-Dependent Schemes (Awir) influences allowances like housing and healthcare benefits in a similar way. The Central Appeals Board (CRvB) has ruled in cases such as ECLI:NL:CRVB:2019:1234 that the norm only applies to a 'joint household' as defined in Article 3:7 of the Civil Code. In Utrecht, the District Court of Utrecht handles such disputes locally.

Note: The norm does not apply to partners or children under 21; separate rules, such as the partner assessment, apply in those cases.

How Does the Municipality of Utrecht Apply the Cost-Sharing Norm?

The cost-sharing norm in Utrecht begins with the application or review of benefits. The Municipality of Utrecht checks your household via the Basic Registration of Persons (BRP) and additional information. They assess:

Whether the person is 21 years or older.
Whether a joint household exists: this requires mutual care and shared living (mere cohabitation does not always count).
Whether the cost-sharer has income or assets but does not receive benefits.

Steps in the Utrecht procedure:

Registration: The Municipality of Utrecht includes the reduction in the decision on your benefits.
Assessing exceptions: In situations like disability of the cost-sharer, the norm may be deferred (Article 31, paragraph 4 of the Pw), which is evaluated locally.
Review: Report any changes, such as a move, immediately to the Municipality of Utrecht; the norm will then be recalculated.

For housing benefits, the Tax Authority applies a similar reduction: 10% lower per additional cost-sharer starting from the second.

Practical Examples of the Cost-Sharing Norm in Utrecht

To make the application of the cost-sharing norm in Utrecht more concrete, here are some examples from local practice:

Example 1: Adult studying son in Utrecht-Oost. Mrs. Jansen from Utrecht receives social assistance. Her 22-year-old son lives with her and studies with limited funding. The Municipality of Utrecht considers him a cost-sharer, so her benefits decrease by €214.07 monthly. This would not happen if he received his own benefits.

Example 2: Live-in brother with a job in the city. Mr. Ahmed shares a house with his 25-year-old brother, who earns a standard income at a Utrecht company. The Municipality of Utrecht applies the norm, reducing Ahmed's benefits by €214.07. The amount is restored if the brother moves out.

Example 3: Exception due to illness in a Utrecht apartment. Mr. De Vries's live-in daughter has a WIA benefit below the minimum due to disability; the norm is not applied after assessment by the Municipality of Utrecht.

These cases show that application depends on personal factors in Utrecht. For more information: joint household in Utrecht or applying for social assistance in Utrecht. Consult Het Juridisch Loket Utrecht for personalized advice.

Rights and Obligations Regarding the Cost-Sharing Norm in Utrecht

Your Rights

You are entitled to a clear explanation in the decision from the Municipality of Utrecht. If you disagree, file an objection within six weeks (Article 7:1 of the General Administrative Law Act). If the objection is denied, you can appeal to the District Court of Utrecht. The CRvB often supports benefit recipients if the household is not clearly established. If the norm is invalid, you may receive interim compensation.

Your Obligations

Report any household changes immediately to the Municipality of Utrecht (Article 70 of the Pw), or you risk repayment or a fine. Het Juridisch Loket Utrecht can help you navigate these rules.

Veelgestelde vragen

Wat is mijn retourrecht?

Bij online aankopen heb je 14 dagen retourrecht zonder opgaaf van reden, tenzij de wettelijke uitzonderingen gelden.

Hoe lang geldt de wettelijke garantie?

Goederen moeten minimaal 2 jaar meewerken. Defecten die binnen 6 maanden ontstaan worden verondersteld al aanwezig te zijn.

Kan ik rente eisen over schulden?

Ja, je kunt wettelijke rente eisen (momenteel ongeveer 8% per jaar) over het openstaande bedrag.

Wat kan ik doen tegen oneerlijke handelspraktijken?

Je kunt klacht indienen bij de consumentenbond, de overheid of naar de rechter gaan.

Wat is een kredietovereenkomst?

Een kredietovereenkomst regelt hoe je geld leent, wat de rente is, en hoe je dit terugbetaalt.