Objection Procedure for Social Assistance Decisions in Amsterdam

If you receive a negative decision regarding social assistance from the Dienst Werk en Inkomen (DWI) in Amsterdam, for example due to exceeding income? You have 6 weeks to lodge an objection. Send a reasoned letter to the Municipality of Amsterdam, attn. DWI, Postbus 8015, 1000 KK Amsterdam, with supporting documents such as recent payslips, asset overviews or tenancy agreements. The municipality decides within 8 weeks; if no decision is made, the deemed approval principle (stilzwijgende goedkeuring) applies as approval. Grounds for objection in Amsterdam: calculation errors in the social assistance assessment, unaccounted special expenses such as high Amsterdam rent or changed circumstances due to, for example, flexible work in the city. In case of urgent financial need, you can apply for a preliminary provision (voorlopige voorziening) from the administrative court (court fee €86, often reimbursed). Step 2: appeal to the District Court Amsterdam, Administrative Law Division (location Amsterdam), with court fee €195 (refunded if successful). In 2023, more than 35% of objections in Amsterdam were successful, with much success in cases of incorrectly included childcare allowance or incorrect assessment of household composition in single-person households. Keep all correspondence from DWI carefully. Free assistance via the Juridisch Loket Amsterdam (location Pieter Braaijweg 51) or your legal expenses insurance. Urgent? Apply directly for a provisional social assistance benefit from DWI. Success depends on complete substantiation; use model letters on rechtspraak.nl or the Amsterdam templates on amsterdam.nl.