Gambling with welfare benefits

You may gamble if you receive welfare benefits. Just be sure to report it. There have been cases where people have had to pay back their benefits after gambling. In this article we explain more about this.

Obligation to report

If you are entitled to welfare benefits, you must report all changes in your income. This includes winning a prize, which can affect your benefit. From what amount is this different for each municipality. It is therefore wise to contact your case manager about this. Also if you lose the money you won, it is wise to report this.

Tip: Do you doubt whether you should report something? Always do, to avoid problems afterwards.

Maximum allowed assets

Do you have savings, shares or a second home? Then you call that assets. Prices over the limit of your maximum capital will affect your social assistance benefit. As a single person, you are allowed 7,605 euros in assets. If you have children under 18 or if you live together, this capital is 15,210.

So always discuss with your contact person at the municipality what the rules are and how you can ensure that you do not get into trouble if you gamble.

Not reporting

It can be tempting not to report the prize to the municipality. They don't just have access to your bank statements, but if they suspect you of fraud and you don't cooperate, your benefits will be withdrawn and a fraud investigation will be launched.

Consequences

The rules and duties that come with welfare benefits can sometimes be very frustrating and complicated. Especially if you are happy to have won a prize. So the temptation not to report it can be great. But the problems you make by not reporting it can unfortunately be much bigger.

 If the municipality finds out that you won a prize two years ago and you didn't tell them about it you would have to pay back two years of benefits. Do you get into debt because of this and want to use debt assistance? The the judge will reject your application because you received unjustified benefits.

 Other benefits

Even with other benefits, you may have to report a prize you have won. Do you receive a benefit? Then check carefully what the conditions are.