What is the Social Support Act (Wmo)

You can arrange the following types of assistance yourself. You pay the costs yourself.

• Begin link: Small modifications to your home, end link. , for example an elevated toilet.
• Begin link: Simple disability aids, end link. , such as a walker or grab bars.
• Begin external link: Burenhulp(External link), end external link., if you can use help or are looking for companionship. Or if you actually would like to do something for others.
• Begin external link: Den Haag Mantelzorg(External link), end external link.. Does somebody want to be your caregiver? Then there is help and support.
• Begin link: Transportation, end link. . Would you like to get out? Or do you need to go somewhere? Then there are different possibilities.
• Begin link: Find a buddy, end link. . A buddy is a volunteer who helps you out once in a while or has a chat with you.
• Begin link: Meal assistance, end link. . If you do not want to make your meals yourself, there are still different ways of getting a warm meal.
• Begin link: Help doing food shopping, end link. . When you cannot do your shopping yourself.
• Begin link: Overnight accommodation, end link. . Arrange overnight accommodation if your caregiver is temporarily unavailable.
• Begin link: Help with administration and money matters, end link. . Support in organising paperwork and bills. And your debts.

You also arrange the following types of assistance yourself. It is possible that your health insurance covers the costs. Ask your health insurance provider for more information.

• Begin link: Personal care, end link. . Do you need help with your grooming and dressing routine? For example, help putting on support stockings, taking medication or feeding yourself? Contact your health insurance provider.
• Do you live independently and do you want to be able to get help quickly in case of an emergency? Then you can use a personal alarm. This is a small portable transmitter which you can wear around your neck or wrist. Do you need a personal alarm for medical reasons? Contact your health insurance provider. More information can be found on the Begin external link: website of the Government of the Netherlands(External link), end external link. (in Dutch).

Are you looking for activities, support or care in your neighbourhood? Look at the Begin external link: Sociale Kaart(External link), end external link..

You can arrange the following types of assistance together with the municipality:

• Begin link: Help in the household, end link. . For tidying and cleaning your home.
• Begin link: Large modifications to your home, end link. . For example, a stair lift.
• Begin link: Big disability aids, end link. . Such as a mobility scooter.
• Begin link: AV 070, end link. .
• Begin link: Individual support, end link. . Somebody will help you in situations or matters which are difficult for you.
• Begin link: Day activity programme, end link. . To give you something useful to do with your days. Or to practice working.
• Begin link: Overnight accommodation, end link. . Is your caregiver temporarily not available? The municipality can help you find a place to spend the night.
• Begin link: Sheltered housing, end link. . This means living in a care facility. Or assisted living with a care service.
• Begin link: Homeless shelter, end link. . The Homeless counter (daklozenloket) provides information and advice to people who are homeless. And to family and acquaintances.
• Begin link: Help and advice for domestic violence and child abuse, end link. . Veilig Thuis Haaglanden is the main advice and reporting centre for domestic violence and child abuse.
• Begin link: Help with administration and money matters, end link. . Do you have debts or are you behind in making your payments? And are you unable to manage? See if you can apply for debt assistance.

Do you know that you will need help in the future? Then the municipality expects you to already keep this in mind now. For example by looking for another home on time. Or by saving towards modifications in your home. But also arranging assistance on time after an operation.

The municipality looks at:

• what you have done yourself in terms of a solution
• which of your own resources you have used

The municipality will always ask you what kind of solution you want. Unfortunately it will not always be able to take this into account. The solution must be viable. And it must be affordable.

Do you have limitations? But are you able to participate in daily life in the city without assistance from the municipality? Then the municipality does not have to solve everything. It does not have a compensation obligation if somebody is still able to participate.

Do you have enough money to pay for a solution? The municipality will take this into account. Of course it will help arrange a solution.

Is there more than 1 type of support which can provide a solution? The municipality will choose the cheapest solution.