Acceptability, generosity and honesty as guiding principles in recovery surgery

Acceptability, generosity and honesty as guiding principles in recovery surgery
Advice from the Parent Committee on Childcare Allowance - June 6, 2024
Introductory: “Yet another slap in the face to the affected parents”
The Parent Committee on Childcare Allowance learned with disbelief, anger and sadness that the Equal Recovery Foundation's damage route valued by parents. From the outset, it was communicated that the recovery operation is based on two principles, namely: plausibility and generosity — with the aim of restoring trust among those affected by the benefits affair, financial recovery and ensuring that the parents concerned can make a fresh start. The Parents' Committee notes that the Ministry of Finance contradicts these principles. The Ministry's intervention in the only route that does justice to parents' stories is the regrettable and ironic example of this. After all, this is a damage route that can not only count on the high appreciation of affected parents, but also at (relatively speaking) the lowest execution costs per victim. While the media paints the picture that the costs of the recovery operation will rise exorbitantly if this route is continued unchanged after the pilot. The Parents' Committee dares to doubt whether potential savings on execution, objection, appeal, etc. are included in this calculation. After all, scaling up this method could just lead to the desired acceleration in the recovery operation — so that the enormous execution device (which has so far failed to deliver what was expected) can be accelerated. Just consider the costs of constant 'renovations' and extensions at CWS (which are not effective yet). That is really inexplicable. What is also inexplicable is that a large number of victims who had signed up for the additional damage route with SGH, or are already in the process, are now in uncertainty again. Remember: the allowance affair did not happen to parents, but affected them. The Parents' Committee therefore recommends continuing SGH's independent approach, which does justice to the guiding principles of “plausibility” and “generosity” — as soon as possible.
Another important point concerns imaging. It's suddenly no longer about the unprecedented injustice, but about the unprecedented costs of the recovery operation. It's no longer about a fresh start for victims, but a fresh start for a new minister. It paints a picture that the affected parents want to play a leg on the government. Generous compensation and compensation to parents who were taken aback by the same government is compared to “playing for Santa Claus”. This feels extremely unfair to victims. After all, there was also no maximum amount of money recovered from parents; no limit to the suffering that was caused to them.
The Parents' Committee therefore recommends the following:
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As a government, be an ally of affected parents. Act in accordance with your own principles and continue SGH's independent approach as soon as possible. In doing so, maintain SGH's independent position. This means that SGH's services will no longer be suspended, that SGH's independence will not be compromised and that a decision will not be transferred to a new Cabinet.
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Provide clarity to victims as soon as possible (at least before the summer recess). It is not acceptable for parents to face another “summer of uncertainties”.
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As outgoing Secretary of State for Finance - Surcharges and Customs, distance yourself publicly (in the media, but also in the upcoming Parliamentary debate) from the negative media statements that are a slap in the face to the affected parents.