Receive a pay slip? Check your details for your benefits – The Happy Financial

Always report changes in your life yourself

Utrecht, January 22, 2026 – This week many people will receive their first pay slip or benefit statement of 2026. Maybe you too. Changes in your income usually affect how much allowance you can receive. That is why the Benefits Department reminds people to check their income for benefits. Do you receive housing allowance, childcare allowance, child-related budget or healthcare allowance? Check your details via My Allowances or the Allowances app. And adjust where necessary. This reduces the chance that you will receive too much or too little allowance.

Many people often think that the Benefits Department has up-to-date information about income. But that is not the case. The Benefits Department will only know how much income you actually had after the year has ended. You will receive the allowance as an advance. This means that you receive money every month based on what your life is expected to look like that year. You provide that information yourself. At the end of the year, your situation will be assessed and how much allowance you were definitively entitled to.

Just check

To ensure that you do not receive too much or too little allowance, it is important that your details are as up to date as possible. You must therefore report changes yourself, such as in your income. Do that even if you think it’s just a small change.

Tips for how to check and adjust your income

1. Look in the Toeslagen app or on My allowances which income is known to the Benefits Department. Please note: are you allowance partners? Then your partner’s income also counts. You are often allowance partners if you are married or registered partners. But also, for example, if you have a child together and live at the same address. Do you have a co-resident and do you receive housing allowance? Then the income of your fellow resident also counts.
2. Use the calculation tool.
   To estimate your income you can use the calculation tool at toeslagen.nl/income. This way you can easily check what counts towards your allowances. And which details of your pay slip you need to fill in.
3. Adjust your income if necessary.
   Does it appear that the Benefits Department has a different income than you expect to have in 2026? Then adjust it via My Allowances or the Allowances app.
4. It is better to estimate your income slightly too high than too low.
   Not sure how much income you will have in 2026? It is better to estimate your income slightly higher, so that you do not receive too much allowance. If at the end of the year it turns out that you could have received more based on your income, you will still receive it.

Check and adjust. Also later in 2026.

Are you going to work more or less? Do you have a new job? Are you moving from a rental to an owner-occupied home? Do you purchase more or less childcare? Will your rental price change? Also report changes in your income or life during the year. This can be done via My Allowances toeslagen.nl of the app.

Staff

Need help with checking and making changes, or applying for benefits? You can find more information at toeslagen.nl/pasaan. You can also call 0800-0543 for free or visit one of the counters or benefit service points. On toeslagen.nl/hulp you can see exactly what help is available in your area.