Zorgtoeslag (healthcare allowance) is a subsidy towards the costs of compulsory health insurance in the Netherlands. It is paid out by the Belastingdienst (Dutch Tax Administration) and is real support for people with lower and middle incomes.
Who can receive zorgtoeslag?
To be eligible:
- you must be at least 18 years old,
- you must have Dutch health insurance,
- your income, including your partner's if you have one, may not exceed the limits set for the given year,
- your assets on 1 January of the given year may not exceed a specific amount, both for you and your possible partner.
In practice, this means that even if your income falls within the limit but you have too high savings or other assets, you may not be entitled to zorgtoeslag for the entire year.
Assets include, among others, savings on accounts, investment funds and other components of wealth, except for your own home in which you live.
Official information can also be found on the Belastingdienst website: check the zorgtoeslag conditions .
How much can you receive?
The amount of the allowance depends on income. The lower the income, the higher the allowance.
For the lowest incomes the maximum allowance is:
- 2025: single person up to €1,572 per year, couple up to €3,000 per year,
- 2026: single person up to €1,548 per year, couple up to €2,952 per year.
Although the maximum amounts in 2026 are slightly lower, the income limits have been raised at the same time, so many people will still keep the right to the allowance.
When to file the application?
You can file zorgtoeslag at any time.
- for 2025, the application can be filed no later than 31.08.2026,
- for 2026, the application is filed during the year, providing the estimated income.
It is worth remembering that:
- if you state too low an income in the application and after settlement it turns out you actually earned more, the authority may demand the return of part of the allowance,
- if income is overstated, after the annual settlement you may receive a top-up.
Therefore, in most cases we recommend filing or updating data once a year, when the actual incomes are known. This helps to avoid unpleasant repayments or top-ups later.
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With allowances, the most important thing is up-to-date data and a correct income assessment, because these decide whether a refund or a top-up to the authority will appear later.