Reimbursement of Social Assistance by an Ex-Partner or Parent

The municipality may require someone other than the person receiving public assistance to repay the public assistance benefits. This is called “recovery of public assistance.”

The municipality may seek reimbursement from you if you fail to fulfill your obligation to provide support. The obligation to provide support means that you must contribute to another person’s living expenses. You are required to provide financial support for:

  • your child under the age of 21
  • your (former) spouse
  • your (former) registered partner

If you fail to do so, and your child or (former) partner is receiving social assistance benefits as a result, the municipality may decide that you must repay those benefits.

How does it work?

The municipality may require you to repay social assistance in the following situations:

  • You have children under the age of 21, and you are not contributing, or are contributing insufficiently, to their living expenses.
  • You are living apart from your spouse or registered partner, and you are not contributing, or are contributing insufficiently, to living expenses.
  • You are officially divorced, and you are paying too little in alimony—or none at all.
  • You have received a gift from someone who receives public assistance.
  • You have received an inheritance from someone who was receiving too much public assistance.
  • You have received an inheritance from someone who was receiving public assistance to which they were not entitled.
  • You have received an inheritance from someone who received public assistance as a loan.

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