Starting January 1, 2026, Almere residents on welfare will automatically receive the financial support they are entitled to. The municipality will ensure that the cancellation of municipal taxes and the payment of the individual income allowance are arranged directly. This way, thousands of people will receive hundreds of euros per year that their situation entitles them to, without having to do anything for it.

Many people with a low income are currently not taking advantage of the support they are entitled to. They do not know about it, find it too complicated, or are afraid to ask. As a result, they miss out on money – while every euro counts when you are struggling to get by. Figures show that of the approximately 4,500 people on welfare who are entitled to a tax exemption, about 2,200 do not apply for it. By arranging this automatically, the municipality prevents people from missing out on money due to stress, shame, or digital barriers. This approach saves residents money. The municipality also saves on administration and collection processes.

Councilor Micha Mos (Poverty, debts, work, and income): “People should receive what they are entitled to. We do not want them to have to go through various difficult steps to get the help they are simply entitled to. By automating this support, we as a government show that we trust our residents. This is fairer, simpler, and prevents unnecessary worries. We help residents who need it directly.”

What changes exactly?

From 2026, the following financial support will be automatic:

  • Cancellation of municipal taxes
    Residents will no longer have to apply for certain taxes, such as waste disposal fees, themselves. This will happen automatically if they are entitled to it.
  • Individual income allowance (IIT)
    This extra money is intended for people who have been living on a low income for a longer period. They will receive automatic notification if they qualify. Only those who do not want to receive the money need to take action.

For people with an income just above the social minimum, nothing changes. They can still apply for exemption and support. They are also entitled to that. The municipality will continue to actively inform and support this group in applying.

Almere is leading the way

Almere is one of the first municipalities in the Netherlands to fully implement this form of automatic income support. While other cities such as Utrecht, Tilburg, and Amsterdam are still working with various forms of pilot projects, Almere opts for full implementation.