Application of the Cost-Sharing Norm in Delft

The cost-sharing norm in Delft describes how the Municipality of Delft adjusts the social assistance benefit when multiple adults in a household share expenses. This mechanism, designed to promote a fairer distribution of costs, reduces your benefit when you live with others who have their own income. In this article for residents of Delft, we explain how this regulation works, including local procedures, laws, practical cases, and your options for help through agencies such as the Legal Aid Desk Delft.

What does the cost-sharing norm in Delft entail?

The cost-sharing norm is a component of social assistance that adjusts the benefit based on the number of adult 'cost-sharers' in your home in Delft. These are individuals aged 21 or older who live with you and can support themselves, for example, through employment or their own benefits. The principle is that they contribute to shared costs, such as rent in Delft's city center or daily groceries, making your full assistance no longer necessary.

This rule primarily applies to social assistance but also affects allowances under the Participation Act. For more basic information on the cost-sharing norm for social assistance in Delft, see our article on the cost-sharing norm for social assistance in Delft. Here, we focus on the everyday application for Delft residents.

Legal basis of the cost-sharing norm in Delft

The application of the cost-sharing norm in Delft is governed by the Participation Act (Pw), specifically Article 31, paragraph 3. This stipulates that the benefit for a single person or single parent with children under 18 is reduced by a standard amount per cost-sharer. Since January 1, 2023, this is €214.07 net per month per participant (adjusted annually for inflation).

If there is more than one cost-sharer, the reduction is calculated per person, but the benefit cannot fall below the social minimum. For allowances like housing and healthcare, the General Act on Income-Dependent Schemes (Awir) applies, with a similar adjustment. The Central Appeals Board (CRvB) has ruled in cases such as ECLI:NL:CRVB:2019:1234 that the norm only applies in a 'joint household' as defined in Article 3:7 of the Civil Code (BW).

Note: Partners and children under 21 are excluded; separate assessments apply, such as the partner regulation.

How does the Municipality of Delft apply the cost-sharing norm?

The cost-sharing norm in Delft is triggered when applying for or reviewing your social assistance benefit. The Municipality of Delft checks your living situation through the Basic Registration of Persons (BRP) and additional data. They assess:

Whether the person is 21 years or older.
Whether there is a joint household: this requires mutual care and shared daily life (mere cohabitation without interaction does not count).
Whether the cost-sharer meets income and asset thresholds but does not receive social assistance.

The process with the Municipality of Delft includes:

Registration: The reduction is stated in your municipal decision.
Exception check: In situations like a participant's disability, the norm may be deferred (Article 31, paragraph 4 Pw).
Adjustment: Report any changes in your household, such as a move, immediately to the Municipality of Delft; the calculation will then be recalculated.

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

Practical examples of the cost-sharing norm in Delft

To make the application of the cost-sharing norm in Delft more concrete, here are some local scenarios:

Example 1: Adult student in Delft. Ms. Van der Meer, a single social assistance recipient in the Poptahof neighborhood, shares her home with her 23-year-old daughter who is studying at TU Delft with limited student funding. Due to her age and financial contribution, the Municipality of Delft reduces the benefit by €214.07 monthly. If the daughter had her own social assistance, this could be avoided.

Example 2: Working family member. Mr. Khan from Binnenwatersloot lives with his 26-year-old nephew who works at a local company. The Municipality of Delft considers the nephew a cost-sharer, resulting in a reduction of €214.07 on Mr. Khan's benefit. If the nephew moves out, the full benefit is restored.

Example 3: Exception due to health. The live-in son of Mr. Jansen in Delft-Zuid is disabled and receives a WIA benefit below the minimum. The Municipality of Delft does not apply the norm after individual assessment.

These cases illustrate that the application depends on personal factors in Delft. For more information: joint household in Delft or applying for social assistance with the Municipality of Delft.

Rights and obligations under the cost-sharing norm in Delft

Your rights

You are entitled to a clear explanation in the Municipality of Delft's decision. If you disagree, file an objection with the municipality within six weeks (Article 7:1 General Administrative Law Act). If refused, you can appeal to the District Court of The Hague. The CRvB often rules in favor of the benefit recipient if the joint household is not established. You can also claim provisional repayment if the norm is later deemed invalid. For free advice in Delft: contact the Legal Aid Desk Delft.

Your obligations

Report household changes immediately to the Municipality of Delft (Article 70 Pw), otherwise, recovery or a fine may result.

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.