All municipalities have public community centres (‘buurthuizen’ or ‘wijkcentra’) that provide social support and assistance.

Since the 1st of April, refugees from Ukraine (including refugees without the Ukrainian nationality) can claim € 260 living allowance, per person per month. Registration in the BRP (Basisregistratie Personen) is not a requirement for receiving a living allowance.

Please note that local authorities may pay out part of the living allowance in kind, for example if meals are offered at shelter locations. As a result, it is possible that refugees in some municipalities receive (much) less living allowance.

Extra allowance

Refugees who live with a host family receive an extra allowance in addition to their living allowance. Adults receive € 215 per month, children € 55. This money can be used for things like public transport, family visits or sports. Refugees can also use the money to contribute to the costs of the host family, but this is not obligatory. When a host family accommodates more than one refugee, they are each entitled to their own living allowance. There is no maximum amount per host family.

3 to 6 months

The government has decided to grant living allowances for a period of 3 months, with an extension to six months. In the meantime, it is being considered how the payment of living allowances can be organized in the future, for refugees who do not have work.

In the Netherlands parents receive a subsidy for raising their children, until they are 18 years old. Currently refugees from Ukraine who do not work in the Netherlands cannot receive these benefits. However, if you do have a job in the Netherlands, you might qualify for it. Contact the Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB, the Dutch organisation that implements social insurance schemes) for more information.

When a refugee has income from work, the living allowance stops, regardless of the amount of income. Family members who are not working will still receive a living allowance. If you start working, you must report this to the municipality. If you at some point lose your job, you can apply for the living allowance again. Please contact the municipality regarding this. Check the website of the central government for the latest information.

At the moment there are no social benefits available to refugees for child support. In every refugee reception center, there is at least one employee appointed as 'contact person for children'. This person has a coordinating role in organizing kids activities and providing information regarding children.

Social benefits such as a childcare allowance and/or the child-related budget (an allowance from the government for the expenses of families earning an income up to a certain level) are only available for holders of a valid residence permit.

In the Netherlands parents receive a subsidy for raising their children, until they are 18 years old. Currently refugees from Ukraine who do not work in the Netherlands cannot receive these benefits. However, if you do have a job in the Netherlands, you might qualify for it. Contact the Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB, the Dutch organisation that implements social insurance schemes) for more information.

At the moment there are no benefits available for pregnant and nursing women.

Through this Telegram channel daily news, tips and information about your stay in the Netherlands are shared.

In this Facebook group , refugees from Ukraine help each other with questions about finding work, housing, education and other relevant information.

Do you have health care needs that require a longer-term stay in an institution (for example people with physical disabilities)? And can this type of care not be paid for by your municipality or through a subsidy program? In that case, you can apply for the Regeling Medische zorg Asielzoekers (Regulation Medical Care for Asylum Seekers, RMA).

Swedoro (Stichting Welzijn Doven Rotterdam) accommodates deaf refugees for a short period of time. They can relax there for a while and tell their story. Afterwards they go to another location for a longer period of time.

For more information about the support of deaf refugees from Ukraine, please write to supportukraine@dovenschap.nl.

Support for the disabled is provided via the Law Social Support (WMO). Refugees can also apply for this via the WMO-counter of the municipality that they are staying in. Generally, the process looks like this:

Report - Report your request for help and support to the WMO counter of your municipality. At most municipalities you can fill out an online form for the WMO application.

1. Interview & Research - The municipality will schedule an interview and conduct a research on your situation.
2. Recommendation - The municipality will provide a recommendation, detailing the help required.
3. Agreement - You can agree to the decision, after which further steps will be planned.
4. Other option for support include the general practitioner or MEE organisation.

Those who need disability support also have the right to independent client support. For this, one can turn to MEE: MEE is committed to people with disabilities and their network. In all areas of life and in all phases of life, so that they can participate in society to the best of their ability.

You can contact your local MEE organisation for more information.

Swedoro (Stichting Welzijn Doven Rotterdam) accommodates deaf refugees for a short period of time. They can relax there for a while and tell their story. Afterwards they go to another location for a longer period of time.

For more information about the support of deaf refugees from Ukraine, please write to supportukraine@dovenschap.nl.

Everyone, except undocumented migrants, is free to provide services on a voluntary basis. Refugees from Ukraine have a special residence status and are therefore allowed to volunteer.

You can find volunteer work on this and this website .