Objection and appeal in case of rejection of housing costs assistance in Amsterdam
Was your application for special assistance for housing costs rejected by the Municipality of Amsterdam? You have legal remedies. The Work and Income Department of the municipality must always properly motivate the rejection, taking into account the high Amsterdam rental prices and housing costs.
Objection procedure at the Municipality of Amsterdam
- Deadline: Submit your objection within 6 weeks after the date of dispatch to the Legal Affairs Department via the online portal or by post.
- Content: Explain why the rejection is unjustified, with new evidence such as recent rental agreements from Amsterdam neighborhoods like the Jordaan or Oost, or evidence of increased housing costs due to inflation.
- Course: The municipality will reconsider your objection within 6-12 weeks and inform you of the status via the Mijn Amsterdam portal.
Appeal at the court
If the objection is rejected, you can appeal within 6 weeks to the Amsterdam District Court, Administrative Law Division. Legal assistance is free of charge via your legal expenses insurance or subsidized legal aid from the Council for Legal Aid. Success depends on factual errors in the decision, such as incorrect income calculation or incorrect application of the Amsterdam housing costs guidelines. Examples of successful cases in Amsterdam: incorrect asset estimation for expats or failure to consider special arrangements such as the Amsterdam Huurstart or special assistance for self-employed persons (ZZP'ers) in the city. Document everything carefully, including correspondence with the Amsterdam Loket. This way, you increase your chances of success in this expensive housing market. (248 words)