Caring for someone you love costs time and energy. But it often costs money too. Maybe you drive back and forth. Maybe you cover the groceries. Or you work less so you can be there. And then you suddenly notice that care affects your money too. Money gets tight. Or you worry about whether you can keep it up.
When those money worries come on top of everything, it can feel heavy. Your head is already full of the care itself. And then you also have to find out which arrangements you’re entitled to. There are many arrangements: allowances, reimbursements, tax deductions and desks. It’s a real jungle. If you don’t know it, it’s easy to get lost.
Good to know: you don’t have to understand this all at once. And you don’t have to figure it out alone. There are arrangements that are there especially for caregivers like you. And there is help to find out what you’re entitled to. In this article, we’ll calmly lay it all out. That way it becomes manageable again.
What reimbursements are there for caregivers?
Caregiving is usually unpaid. You do it out of love or commitment, not for the money. Still, there are a few arrangements. They can give you a bit of financial support. Not everything applies to everyone. And it doesn’t all have to happen at once. Start with what fits your situation best.
Below, we’ll go through the arrangements. We’ll start with the one that’s easiest to apply for. After that come the steps that take a bit more figuring out. Read along calmly. And see what might be right for you.
What is the caregiver appreciation and how do I apply for it?
The caregiver appreciation is a yearly thank-you for what you do. Many municipalities give this. This way, they show that they see and value your work. The form differs from one municipality to another. Sometimes it’s a sum of money. Sometimes a gift voucher. And sometimes, for example, a free course.
Keep one thing in mind. You apply for the caregiver appreciation in the municipality where your loved one lives. So that’s not always your own municipality. Do you care for a parent in another town? Then you register there.
Here’s how to apply:
- Get in touch with the Wmo desk of the municipality where your loved one lives. Wmo stands for Wet maatschappelijke ondersteuning, the Social Support Act. That’s the arrangement the municipality uses to help people keep living at home for as long as possible.
- Ask about the caregiver appreciation. And ask how you can register. Often you can do this online with your DigiD, or by phone.
- You’ll then hear what the conditions are. And you’ll hear in what form you get the appreciation.
Are you not happy with the caregiver appreciation? Or do you not know whether your municipality has one? Then let the municipality itself know. Or ask the MantelzorgLijn. That’s a national phone line. You can contact them for free with all your questions about caregiving.
Can I deduct care costs from my taxes?
Caregiving can cost money in other ways too. Sometimes you have costs for your loved one. You can sometimes get part of that back through your taxes.
Does your loved one live in your home? And do you have high care costs? Then you may be able to deduct those care costs on your tax return. Think of medication or certain aids. Or hospital visits when your loved one is in hospital. Note: you usually cannot deduct travel costs for ordinary caregiving. Only travel costs for hospital visits sometimes do count.
Aids for your loved one, such as a wheelchair or a home adaptation, often go through a separate arrangement. That’s the Wmo. Another article on this site explains this further. For now, this is enough to know: you usually don’t have to pay for aids yourself. And you apply for them separately.
Do I get paid if I care through a PGB?
Sometimes you can be paid for your care. Does your loved one have a Personal Budget (PGB)? That’s a sum of money that someone can use to buy care themselves. This money comes, for example, from the Wmo, the Zorgverzekeringswet (Health Insurance Act) or the Wet langdurige zorg (Long-Term Care Act). With that budget, your loved one can pay you for the care you give.
Together, you then write down what you do. And you write down what you get for it. This is done in a care agreement. Are you paid this way? Then you declare that money on your tax return. Separate rules apply to that. So make sure you get good information about this.
What if I get into financial difficulty?
Sometimes there isn’t one big expense. But it all adds up together. You work less. The costs go up. And so things get really hard for you financially. That happens to more caregivers than you think. You don’t need to feel ashamed of it.
Are you getting into financial difficulty because of the caregiving? Then you can apply for special assistance from the municipality. That’s extra money for special costs that you can’t pay yourself. The municipality then looks at your situation. The Wmo desk or the local social team can tell you how to apply for this.
How do I know which arrangements I’m entitled to?
Maybe your head is spinning a little now. Caregiver appreciation, tax deduction, PGB, special assistance: it’s a lot. It’s understandable if you can no longer see the wood for the trees. But the good news is: you don’t have to figure this out on your own.
A caregiver broker helps you with exactly this. This person knows the arrangements. He or she finds out for you what you’re entitled to. And how to apply for it. This way, a caregiver broker takes the arranging off your hands: the sorting out, the paperwork and the applications. Exactly the things that cost a lot of time and energy when you’re on your own.
The good thing is that this help is often free. You apply for a caregiver broker through your municipality. Or through a caregiver support centre near you.
Besides the caregiver broker, there are more people who can help you think things through:
- A caregiver consultant is an adviser especially for caregivers. You can turn to him or her for advice and guidance with your situation.
- An independent client support worker helps you find your way through the world of care and arrangements, free of charge. This can be for yourself or for your loved one. You arrange this help through the municipality too.
Would you rather ask your questions first? Or share your story? The MantelzorgLijn is there for you every day. For information and a listening ear. And do you not quite know where to begin? Then take a look at Help nearby on this site. There you’ll find organisations in your region that can help you further.
A quick summary
- Caregiving is usually unpaid. But there are arrangements that can support you financially.
- The caregiver appreciation is a yearly thank-you from the municipality. You apply for it at the Wmo desk of the municipality where your loved one lives.
- Do you have high care costs for a loved one who lives in your home? Then you can sometimes deduct care costs from your taxes. Does your loved one have a PGB? Then you can be paid for your care through it.
- Are you getting into financial difficulty? Then you can apply for special assistance from the municipality.
- A caregiver broker finds out for you what you’re entitled to. And takes the arranging off your hands, often free of charge.
What now?
Start with one step. That immediately makes things clearer. The easiest first step is usually the caregiver appreciation. Get in touch with the Wmo desk of the municipality where your loved one lives. And ask how you can register.
Do you feel you could use some help figuring out all the arrangements? Then apply for a caregiver broker through your municipality or a caregiver support centre. Would you rather talk it over first? Then you can call the MantelzorgLijn. And feel free to take a look at Help nearby on this site for organisations in your region. You don’t have to figure it out alone.
