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:

• The Kwadraad Foundation offers temporary help when circumstances cause you to lose your overview. They help you on your way so you can get on independently again.
• Council and Deed 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 offers 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 struggling with debt, it is important that you seek help. Almost one in three Dutch households is in arrears with their payments. So you are not alone and there is no need to feel ashamed. 

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, you can register using the digital registration form.

Signing up for help with debt

Do you need help arranging or applying for something with the digital government? Please contact the Digital Government Information Point.

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?

• Pay off the entire amount yourself: with a feasible payment plan.
• Debt settlement: you repay part of the debt over 18 months; the rest is then waived.
• 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.
• Administration or budget management: when temporary financial management is needed.
• Other assistance: for example, with income or administration. 

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

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

The prevention team assists residents who do not (yet) have debts but are experiencing financial difficulties. Together with the resident, they assess the situation and look for ways to prevent payment arrears.

The prevention team can assist you with:

• gain an overview of your income and expenses;
• preventing payment arrears (e.g. for rent, energy, or Health);
• applying for benefits or (municipal) schemes;
• advice on budgeting or managing money.

Sometimes the prevention team visits people at home to provide better support. They also sometimes call in the evening to reach residents at a time that is more convenient for them.

So you don't need to be in debt to ask for help. The sooner you get in touch, the greater the chance that you can avoid financial problems.

Please contact the prevention team. Send a WhatsApp message to: 06-28 78 95 86 or email nl. You can also call the general number 14 0181.

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

Calculate Your Entitlement
Check whether you are entitled to certain benefits and how to arrange them.

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.

Nibud - overview tools
View all of Nibud's money plans and tools in one place

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.