STUDENT FINANCE In the Netherlands, you can apply for student finance to support your spendings. This can be done by Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs (DUO). There are many things you can apply for, so it is important to decide what you want and need. You can apply for a loan, the so-called 'basisbeurs' and the travel product you can use to travel from point A to point B. It is important to follow the Dutch news on this because the surrounding rules can change every year. Also, your university can offer you scholarships, so check your university website if there any available to you. All scholarships have an application deadline. Additionally, scholarships typically come with specific regulations for sending in your application. When you apply, make sure to read the instructions carefully and send all the necessary documents. HEALTHCARE ALLOWANCE (ZORGTOESLAG) Health insurance is compulsory for all people who live or work in the Netherlands and can be relatively expensive, with standard packages costing roughly 1100 euros per year. To support people with low income, the Dutch government offers a healthcare allowance (zorgtoeslag), a regular contribution to help cover the monthly premiums for Dutch health insurance (zorgverzekering). If you want to apply for zorgtoeslag you need to be at least 18 years old, have Dutch health insurance and not too high savings. You can apply for zorgtoeslag for a specific year up until September 1st of the following year. The amount of zorgtoeslag you receive depends on your income. Benefit applications must be submitted in Dutch at the Mijn Toeslagen webpage. TAX REFUNDS This all depends on how long you want to stay in the Netherlands. If it is for the short term it is not very beneficial to apply for this, but if you want to stay for a longer period it can be quite handy. Everyone who lives and works in the Netherlands pays taxes. If you have a job, you can reach out to your employer and explain to them that you would like to make use of the so-called ‘loonheffingskorting’ (tax discount). This means that your employer will pay your taxes and the Belastingdienst (Dutch tax office) will automatically recalculate at the end of the year if you either receive money back or you have to pay extra for your taxes. This depends on the amount of working hours. PAGE 17
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