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Significant changes to the Dutch rent allowance are coming in 2026. You might be unsure if you’re eligible or find the process intimidating, fearing you might make a mistake. You’re certainly not alone; many Dutch people leave these benefits unclaimed even when they are eligible. That’s a shame, as it can provide a substantial financial boost.
Changes to Rent Allowance in 2026 #
In 2025, the maximum rent for eligibility was €900.07, or €477.20 for young people. These amounts are expected to increase slightly in 2026. To qualify for this allowance, you must meet several conditions.
From 2026, you may be eligible for rent allowance even with a higher rent. However, you will still need to meet key requirements, such as not having an income that is too high, not possessing too much in assets (around €38,000), and living in a self-contained home.
Earn more than the minimum wage? In 2026, you may still be eligible for rent allowance. The Proefberekening Toeslagen (Trial Calculation for Allowances) tool shows you immediately what you are entitled to.
Age Limit #
From 2026, there will no longer be a maximum rent limit to be eligible for rent allowance. However, a maximum amount will still exist for calculating the allowance. If your base rent is above this amount, the portion above it will not be included in the calculation.
A new age limit of 21 will apply for the rent allowance starting in 2026, down from the current 23. The oldest resident of a property is the one who counts for rent allowance purposes.
This means young people will be eligible for a higher rent allowance sooner. Individuals under 18 are not entitled to rent allowance unless they meet specific conditions, which is rare.
Starting in 2026, certain service costs will no longer be included in the rent allowance calculation. The calculation will be based on the base rent price.
Tax Authorities’ Calculation Tool #
If you’re curious how much rent allowance you will receive in 2026, you can use the calculation tool on the Dutch Tax Authorities’ website starting from early December 2025. By doing this after early December, you will include the new amounts that apply for 2026.
In this tool, you enter your details, such as the type of allowance, your income, your household composition, and your base rent, then press “Toon resultaten” (Show results). You will then see an estimate of your rent allowance for 2026 and can also apply directly in ‘Mijn toeslagen’.
We ran a test with an income of €35,000, no assets, and a base rent of €850. In that scenario, you would receive a rent allowance of €229 per month (still based on the 2025 rules).