Reformed Social Assistance Act (WWB)

Since the introduction of the WWB on 11 January 2004, the role of municipal authorities in the process of curbing the amount of social security recipients has changed. Municipal authorities should carefully and periodically evaluate applications for social assistance. Every claimant must provide for themselves as much as they possibly can. The funding of the social security system has also changed. Municipalities have a fixed budget. For smaller municipalities, the budget is based on the number of claimants in the past. For larger municipalities, an objective distribution formula applies.
In principle, social security recipients are not at liberty to decline a job offer, irrespective of their level of education or work experience. They are obliged to actively seek a paid job or participate in a reintegration programme.

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