Summary

You get an uitkering from ISD because you do not have enough income or posessions for yourself and / or your family.

ISD checks regularly whether you still need the uitkering. In this article you learn about what you should do and what to avoid to pass the check. Not passing the check means that you have to pay back the uitkering, so it is important you read this carefully. Many people come in serious problems because they did not understand that a small mistake can have big consequences.

Introduction

Dutch society takes care of every inhabitant of the Netherlands who does not have enough money for living (housing energy, food). This cost dutch society 800 million euro per year for newcomers only, which is paid by the citizens of the Netherlands (= your neighbours).

The uitkering is only for people who do not have enough income from their work and cannot find a job which pays more than minimum wage. Dutch people care for others in need, but do not like to pay their tax for people who can earn money themselves or people who cheat.

This is why ISD has 2 rules for people with an uitkering :

• you have to inform ISD about everything which might influence the right to an uitkering
• you have to do you best to end the uitkering (i.e. find a job)

On a regular base ISD checks if you follow these 2 rules. If ISD detects that you do not follow these rules, you will loose your uitkering, have to pay back part of the uitkering from the past and even get a fine.

Below, advice on how to avoid problems with the ISD.

Inform ISD about everything which is important

OK, but what is important ? Everything that proves that you have no other income than reported to the ISD !

A list to get the idea :

• changes in your family situation : the people with who you live together
• all income from your work
• gifts
• loans
• services you give for free

Make sure you avoid any suspicion you did not inform ISD properly :

• The heighth of the uitkering depends on the family situation. Report if you start living with someone else in your home even just a part of the week.
• Never, ever, earn money without reporting (zwart werk). ISD will eventually find out.
• Report all income monthly via the green form. Make sure it is complete and it is sent on time at the date indicated on the form. Include copies of "loonstrookje". If you do not have a loonstrookje or do not know exactly what you will earn, make a guess. Make a photo of all information from and to ISD. Sometimes ISD (or you) cannot find your letters anymore. Store your photos with Google Photo.
• If you get a loan from somebody, make a contract that states from who, for what purpose, when to pay it back and signatures with names, city and date. Use your bank account for the money transfer (receive and return).
• Report gifts in money or in goods with more value than 25€. Some gifts in money will be deducted from your uitkering.
• Make sure you have a receipt for every expensive purchase ( more than 100€). This includes cars, laundry machine, travel tickets. It proves that the price was not higher than you paid for it yourself and that it was not a partial gift.
• if you have a hobby and create goods or services that you could sell, report this to ISD.

What to do when ISD checks on you

Become independent from LEV : Get your VCF

Driving a car requires a driver license. Working on the workplace requires a VCA to avoid you make damage because you know too little.

Strange that you are given a lot of possibilities to make financial damage without knowing how to avoid it. Do you have a WA verzekering for your childeren ? do you know what to do when you get a loan from a friend and you have an uitkering ?

These and many opther topics are trained in the course "VCF Veiligheids Certificate Finance for Newcomers". At the end you will pass a test and get your VCF, which proves that you know how to deal with financial issues.

Become independent from ISD : get a job !

ISD can help you to get a job, but you have to take initiative yourself.

• Ask an appointment with Kempen+ an uitzendburo that works for ISD.
• Apply what you learned in ONA
• Follow the training : How to get a job

Conclusion

Above is just a summary of the rules of ISD. If you are in doubt or do not understand ask LEV for help. ISD is there to help you to get a job and money if you do not yet have one. There is no reason to be afraid for ISD as long you stick to the rules. There are more rules, so ask LEV and let LEV help you, if you are not sure.

If you think you are not helped well enough by LEV, inform your coach or let me know,

The volunteers of nieuwkomers.oirschot.org

Ruud Merks tel 06 53726512