Participation Act Utrecht: transition from WWB and local changes

In Utrecht, the Participation Act replaced the Work and Assistance Act (WWB) as of 1 January 2015, with specific transitional law for ongoing benefits at the municipality of Utrecht. WWB beneficiaries in Utrecht retained their rights until reassessment by the Utrecht Work Company, but had to comply with stricter participation requirements, such as mandatory job application trajectories via Werk.nl. For young people (18-27 years), Utrecht applies the 'guarantee act': maximum 2 years of benefit without work, followed by intensive trajectories at local learn-work companies such as Werkzaak or UWV partners. Asset limits were tightened to €7,575 for single persons (2024), and the one-off asset designation was abolished. The municipality of Utrecht gained more policy freedom in activation measures, such as the Utrecht 'Workfit' programmes and subsidies for employers. Changes since 2015: in 2020, norm increase due to inflation by 1.5%; 2023 extension of the starters scheme to 3 years for Utrecht starters on the labour market. Wajong beneficiaries in Utrecht are integrated via the Participation Act benefit with wage supplementation, managed by the municipality. Transition from WW to Participation Act requires notification to UWV Utrecht. Older schemes such as IoW have been incorporated into broader Utrecht re-integration trajectories. Check your status via the Utrecht Customer Portal or Werk.nl. This transition led in Utrecht to a 25% decline in benefit recipients due to stricter testing and local job plans. For personal advice: contact the Utrecht Work Company, SVB or your neighbourhood team. Local context, such as Utrecht poverty alleviation via the Regional Deal, helps understand ongoing matters. (248 words)