Zorgtoeslag: the Dutch healthcare allowance for expats
Up to €129 a month towards your health insurance premium, if your income is low enough
Every resident of the Netherlands has to buy basic health insurance, and the premium is the same whether you earn a lot or very little. Zorgtoeslag closes part of that gap. It is a monthly payment from the Belastingdienst towards your premium, and many students, starters, part-timers and single earners qualify without knowing it.
It only works on top of Dutch insurance, so start with our guide to Dutch health insurance if you are not insured yet. You also need a BSN and DigiD to apply, which our BSN and DigiD guide covers step by step.
Zorgtoeslag is one of several Dutch allowances. For rent benefit, child budget and the rest, see our overview of Dutch allowances and benefits.
Table of contents
How much zorgtoeslag do you get in 2026?
In 2026 the maximum is €129 a month for a single person and €246 a month for a couple with a toeslagpartner. The lower your income, the closer you get to that maximum. The allowance does not depend on your premium, so choosing a cheaper insurer does not lower it.
| 2026 | Single | With toeslagpartner |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum allowance | €129 a month | €246 a month |
| Income limit | €40,857 a year | €51,142 a year together |
| Asset limit (1 January 2026) | €146,011 | €184,633 together |
Source: Belastingdienst, hoeveel zorgtoeslag and kan ik zorgtoeslag krijgen.
Your exact amount depends on where your income sits between zero and the limit. The Belastingdienst proefberekening (trial calculation) gives your own figure in a few minutes; you need your expected income for the year and, if you have one, your partner's.
Who qualifies for zorgtoeslag?
You can get zorgtoeslag if all of the following apply to you. For expats the residence condition is the one to check.
- You are 18 or older. From your 18th birthday you need your own health insurance, and from then you can receive the allowance.
- You have Dutch basic health insurance (a basisverzekering with a Dutch insurer). Foreign or international expat policies do not count.
- Your income is below the limit: €40,857 single or €51,142 together in 2026.
- Your assets on 1 January are below the limit: €146,011 single or €184,633 together in 2026.
- You are legally resident with a residence status that gives a right to benefits, and so is your toeslagpartner if you have one.
Which income counts
The Belastingdienst uses your toetsingsinkomen. If you file a tax return, that is the verzamelinkomen on your final assessment. In practice it is roughly your gross annual income, usually a little higher because holiday pay counts too. Student finance does not count. Our net salary guide explains the difference between gross and net pay if you are unsure where you stand.
What expats need to check
Your residence status, and your partner's
Toeslagen are tied to lawful residence. You need a valid residence status that gives a right to benefits, and if you live with a toeslagpartner, your partner must be legally resident too. There is one exception: you can still receive the allowance while your partner is waiting for a decision on a residence permit application, or on an objection or appeal they may await in the Netherlands. The rules differ per nationality, so check the Belastingdienst page for non-Dutch nationals and our residence permit guide.
Your first year
In the year you arrive, your Dutch income is often only part of a year, which can put you under the limit even on a decent salary. Estimate the income you will actually earn in the Netherlands that calendar year, not your annual salary. Underestimating is the most common reason people have to pay money back later.
Insured abroad? If your health insurance is not Dutch, for example because you are covered through a foreign employer, you cannot get zorgtoeslag on that policy. Whether you need Dutch insurance at all is covered in our health insurance guide.
How to apply for zorgtoeslag
You apply online, and you only apply once: the allowance then continues each year until your situation changes.
- Register at your gemeente and get your BSN.
- Take out Dutch basic health insurance. Our insurer comparison lists the 2026 premiums.
- Apply for DigiD, which arrives by post.
- Log in to Mijn toeslagen on the Dienst Toeslagen website and request zorgtoeslag, giving your expected income for the year and your partner's if you have one.
- Report changes in income, address, partner or insurance through Mijn toeslagen as they happen.
Claiming for a past year
You can still apply after the year has ended. Zorgtoeslag over 2025 can be requested until 31 December 2026, according to the Belastingdienst. The deadline for 2024 passed on 2 September 2025. If you arrived last year and never applied, check now.
Advances and paying back
What you receive each month is a voorschot (an advance) calculated on your estimated income. After the year ends, the Belastingdienst calculates the final amount with your real income. If you earned more than you estimated, you received too much and must pay the difference back. If you earned less, you get extra.
- Do not round your income estimate down. A slightly high estimate is safer than a low one.
- Update your income in Mijn toeslagen when you get a raise, a new job or a bonus.
- Report a new partner, a move or a change of insurer straight away.
What changes for zorgtoeslag in 2027?
The biggest change is the asset limit. The Belastingdienst announced on 15 October 2026 that from 2027 it drops by about 18%. If your assets are above the new limit on 1 January 2027, you get no zorgtoeslag for the whole of 2027, however low your income.
| Asset limit | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Single | €146,011 | €119,122 |
| With toeslagpartner | €184,633 | €158,748 |
Source: Belastingdienst, lower asset limits from 1 January 2027.
The government's 2027 budget also raises the maximum allowance for a single person to €140 a month, to offset higher premiums. The final 2027 amounts and income limits are set in November 2026, and this page will be updated when they are published. For premiums and the €400 eigen risico, see health insurance changes for 2027.
Switching insurer for 2027 does not change your zorgtoeslag, but you do need to report the new insurer. Our guide to switching health insurance covers the 31 December deadline.
Frequently asked questions
What is zorgtoeslag?
Zorgtoeslag is the Dutch healthcare allowance: a monthly payment from the Belastingdienst (Dienst Toeslagen) that helps people on lower incomes pay their health insurance premium. In 2026 it is at most €129 a month for a single person and €246 a month for a couple with a toeslagpartner. The amount does not depend on which insurer you choose or what premium you pay.
How much zorgtoeslag can I get in 2026?
At most €129 a month without a toeslagpartner and €246 a month together with one. The lower your income, the closer you get to the maximum. Above an income of €40,857 (single) or €51,142 (together with a partner) you get nothing. Use the proefberekening on the Belastingdienst website for your own figure.
Can expats get zorgtoeslag?
Yes, if you meet the same conditions as everyone else: you are 18 or older, you have Dutch basic health insurance, your income and assets are below the limits, and you are legally resident with a residence status that gives a right to benefits. If you have a toeslagpartner, your partner must also be legally resident. The Belastingdienst has a separate page explaining the rules per nationality.
What are the income and asset limits for 2026?
Income: €40,857 a year single, €51,142 together with a toeslagpartner. Assets on 1 January 2026: €146,011 single, €184,633 together. The income that counts is your toetsingsinkomen, which is roughly your gross annual income including holiday pay.
What changes for zorgtoeslag in 2027?
The asset limit drops sharply. On the peildatum of 1 January 2027 you may have at most €119,122 in assets as a single person or €158,748 together with a partner, down from €146,011 and €184,633. The Belastingdienst announced this on 15 October 2026. The 2027 budget also raises the maximum allowance for a single person to €140 a month; the final 2027 amounts and income limits are set in November 2026.
How do I apply for zorgtoeslag?
Online via Mijn toeslagen on the Dienst Toeslagen website, logging in with DigiD. You need a BSN, Dutch health insurance and a DigiD first. You only apply once; after that the allowance continues each year until something changes.
Can I still claim zorgtoeslag for last year?
Yes, within the deadline. Zorgtoeslag over 2025 can still be requested until 31 December 2026. If you arrived in 2025, were insured and qualified but never applied, you can still claim that year. The deadline for 2024 has already passed.
Why would I have to pay zorgtoeslag back?
Because what you receive each month is an advance based on an estimate of your income. After the year ends the Belastingdienst calculates the final amount with your real income. If your income turned out higher than estimated, you received too much and pay the difference back. Report income changes during the year and do not underestimate your income.