CAK letter explained in English
Care contributions office. Collects your own contribution (eigen bijdrage) for care at home or in a care home. It also collects a higher premium from people with large health insurance debts.
Letters you may get
- Beschikking eigen bijdrage — how much you pay towards your care
- Bestuursrechtelijke premie — a higher health insurance premium, often taken from your wages or benefit
- Factuur — a bill for your own contribution
What to do
- If the amount looks too high, call the CAK. It may be based on an income you no longer have.
- Find the deadline. Look for “termijn”, “uiterlijk”, “binnen”.
- Write the reference number from the letter on everything you send back, and keep copies.
- If you disagree with a decision, object in writing before the deadline (“bezwaar”, “beroep”, “verzet”). See the template.
Words you may see
- beschikking
- Official decision by an office about you, for example about a benefit or a permit. Also called besluit.
Questions
What is the CAK?
Care contributions office. Collects your own contribution (eigen bijdrage) for care at home or in a care home. It also collects a higher premium from people with large health insurance debts.
How long do I have to answer a letter from the CAK?
It depends on the letter. Look for words like “termijn”, “uiterlijk”, “binnen” — they mark the deadline. In the Netherlands, the time to object usually starts the day after the date on the letter (dagtekening), not the day it arrives. So count from the date on the letter. To object, the letter usually names the way to do it (“bezwaar”, “beroep”, “verzet”).
Can I read a CAK letter in English?
Yes. Take a photo of the letter with Briefly. It explains the letter in plain English, finds the deadline and the amount, and gives you ready-made replies in Dutch. Your letter never leaves your device.
Other offices in the Netherlands
Belastingdienst · Dienst Toeslagen (Belastingdienst/Toeslagen) · CJIB (Centraal Justitieel Incassobureau) · Gemeente · Waterschap / hoogheemraadschap · UWV · IND (Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst) · SVB (Sociale Verzekeringsbank)