Language requirement when receiving benefits
Are you receiving welfare benefits? The government requires that you be able to understand, read, speak and write Dutch well enough. Finding work is easier if you have a good command of Dutch.
You are considered to have a reasonable command of Dutch if you have had a Dutch education. For example:
- primary or secondary school
- practical training
- adult education
- vocational education (MBO), professional higher education (HBO) or research-oriented education (WO)
- private education abroad
- civic integration course
Proof of language level
The municipality will ask you to declare whether you have attended a Dutch educational programme or you have an integration diploma. This means you can speak Dutch well enough and you meet the language requirement. The municipality can check this declaration. You will need to fill in this declaration if you have an appointment at the municipality about your benefits.
Language test
Have you had little or no Dutch-language education? The municipality could ask you to take a language test. This test is free of charge.
Improving your Dutch
Your Dutch is not good enough? Then you will need to work to improve your Dutch. For example by taking a language course or by studying Dutch on your own. You can discuss the options with a municipal staff member.
Consequence for your benefits
You do not want to improve your Dutch? Or you do not want to make enough of an effort? This could have consequences for your benefits. Read more about this on the page Begin link: regels en plichten bij een bijstandsuitkering, end link. (in Dutch).
Have you not been able to improve your Dutch despite fulfilling your obligations? Your welfare benefits will not be affected.
Participation Act
The language requirement is part of the Participation Act. Are you applying for benefits on or after 1 January 2016? Then you will have the language requirement. Were you receiving benefits in 2015? Then the language requirement will take effect as of 1 July 2016.
Contact
Do you have any questions? Contact the Begin link: SZW customer service, end link. .
The PDFs below contain information about the language requirement in French, Arabic and Turkish.