Help with money matters and debt

Have you received notice that you will be cut off from water or energy? Or have you received an eviction date for your home? Are you a business owner and the creditor is going to seize business assets? Then there is a crisis. In that case, you should register for a crisis notification as soon as possible. You will receive an appointment within three working days. We will then work with you to find a solution to this situation. Then we can work on a lasting solution for your debts.

Apply for crisis notification as soon as possible. To do so, call 14 0181 or apply via the digital application button under the heading "Debt Services" and indicate in the form that you are in a crisis situation. You will receive an appointment within 3 working days. The municipality will work with you to find a solution to your situation. Then we can work on a long-term solution to your debts.

Are you having trouble managing your money matters? There are several organizations that can help you:

• Kwadraad Foundation offers temporary help when circumstances cause you to lose your overview. They will help you on your way so you can continue on your own again.
• Raad en Daad of the SBO offers free, no-obligation support to people who are struggling to keep financial records or are facing money problems.
• The Nibud website has a roadmap for keeping records. 
• The website Wijzer in geldzaken has online household books you can use. 

If you can no longer manage to pay off your debts, you can request debt services from the municipality. More information can be found below.

If you are dealing with debt, it is important that you seek help. This page tells you more about debt and how to get help.

Did you know that almost 1 in 3 of Dutch households face payment arrears and 1 in 5 households have debts that can get them into trouble? So you are not alone and have nothing to be ashamed of.

Requirements

• You are 18 years of age or older;
• You and your possible partner live in the municipality of Voorne aan Zee;
• (Former) entrepreneurs who are privately liable for their debts can also get help in resolving their debts.

Here's how it works

For help with your debts, apply using the digital application form:Signing up for help with debt

Of course, you can also call, email or stop by (see details at the bottom of this page). After your application is received, we will contact you within 14 days for an initial appointment. During that appointment, the staff member will go over your situation with you. You will discuss what help is needed and which organization can provide it. Sometimes help is needed from the municipality and sometimes you can go to social work, for example. 

Do we agree with you that you will receive debt services from the municipality? Then the employee will look with you to see what information is needed and how you can collect it. We also look at who can help you. We will also discuss with you why you are in debt. Sometimes it is due to losing income and sometimes due to other problems such as health problems. In order to solve the debts and prevent them from increasing again, it is important that you want to work on the underlying problems and accept help for this. 

During the first 8 weeks, we work with you to gather the information needed to figure out the best solution for you.

What options are available to get rid of debt?

• Paying off debt in full yourself. Sometimes the debts or arrears may seem worse than they are and a good payment plan will allow you to pay off the debts yourself on time. 
• Can't pay off the amount within 3 years? Then it is sometimes possible to make agreements with the person who receives money from you about the amount you pay back in 3 years. We call this a debt settlement. Do you pay back the agreed amount in those 3 years? Then you do not have to pay the rest of the debt.
• Don't companies want to agree debt settlement with you? In some cases, the court may be asked to require companies to agree on a debt settlement.
• Is a debt settlement not possible right now? Then we will work with you to see what is possible to ensure that your situation does not get worse. For example, by applying for income arrangements to which you are entitled, or a form of budget management, administration or other guidance.

Everyone is entitled to debt assistance, regardless of income level. Debt assistance is free, has no waiting lists and offers immediate help. The municipality of Voorne aan Zee offers debt services. They work together with Geldplein Rotterdam (formerly Kredietbank Rotterdam).

Signing up for help with debt

Debt assistance for entrepreneurs

Do you have your own business? Then you can also apply for debt assistance. The municipality works with the Regional Self-Employment Office to provide you with the right help. 

The municipality is committed to early detection of arrears and prevention of debt. This page tells you what early detection is.

What is Early Warning?

Sometimes arrears are difficult to resolve and quickly grow into high debt. If you are worried about money problems, it is often difficult to find the right solution or ask for help. The municipality is therefore working with health insurers, landlords and energy companies, among others, to offer help as early as possible to residents with mounting debts. Since January 1, 2021, municipalities are obliged to actively offer help to residents with payment arrears. The purpose of the obligation is to prevent debt among residents as much as possible. 

How does it work?

Landlords, health insurance companies and energy suppliers report mounting arrears to the municipality through a secure system. The municipality's Early Warning Officer reviews the signals and will check to see if the resident is already known to the Debt Services team and is receiving help. If the resident is not (yet) receiving help, the employee will contact them via letter, phone or a home visit. The purpose of the contact is to look at the financial situation with the resident and offer help if necessary. The help offered is always free and voluntary. 

Learn more

Want to know more about the legal obligation or your rights? You can find that information in the amended Municipal Debt Relief Act (Wgs) or the privacy statement on early detection on this website.
 

The websites below will help you get started managing your debts and/or money matters on your own.

Calculate your entitlement
See if you are entitled to a certain allowance and how to arrange it.

Geldfit
Take a short test at Geldfitnl and get advice on your financial situation.

Kwadraad for social help
Personal conversation with a social worker or an (online) course? You choose which method suits your situation.

Nibud
Independent information on money matters.

Schuldhulpmaatje | Uit de Schulden
Expert and trusted volunteers help you get started with your money matters

Startpunt Geldzaken
Provides money plans for different situations. A money plan can help you, for example, make better ends meet or get out of money worries.

Wijzer in Geldzaken
Information on money matters, for example borrowing, saving, investing, insurance and mortgages.

Food Bank Netherlands
Check if you qualify for food assistance and where the nearest food bank is in your area.