The benefits affair had a major role in relocations; the consequences are felt every day
NOS News•Thursday, March 27, 2025, 11:39 •Updated Thursday, March 27, 2025, 3:15 PM
The benefits affair had a major role in relocations: 'Consequences are felt every day'
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The benefits affair played a major role in the evictions of children from affected families. This is what a committee led by Mariëtte Hamer concludes after an investigation. The report shows that children are still struggling with the consequences of being evicted to this day.
The committee discusses the impact that the benefits affair had for the affected families that were investigated and does not discuss whether there were more displacements due to the benefits affair.
The committee spoke, among other things, with a few dozen children and parents who were able to register themselves for the discussions. All children examined by the committee were probably not removed from home if the effects of the benefits affair had been addressed earlier.
The effects are significant and are expected to last, says the committee, although the study is not representative of all affected families with displaced children.
Research method
The committee spoke with 35 affected children and 61 affected parents, from 70 different families. Those families were able to register themselves. As a result, this part of the study is not representative, because it is not a so-called random sample.
In addition, the committee analyzed 74 random files from various institutions. The results were presented to youth counselors and other experts. Because “mixed research methods” were used, the committee believes that the findings are reliable and recognisable.
The debts, poverty and financial problems caused by the benefits affair often meant that family stability disappeared. This created problems in the families that were not previously addressed, such as financial stress, mental problems, loss of work, conflicts between partners and a deteriorated relationship between the children and their parents.
As a result, more parents came into contact with juvenile protection and the children's court. The Child Protection Board ruled that the home situation was no longer safe for a group of children, or that children were threatened with their development and were then removed from home.
“Often, the children did not even know why they were being removed from home,” said chairman Hamer. “Parents were ashamed of the problems and wanted the children not to suffer from it. Still, children felt the shame. There are even stories of children who wanted to help their parents and thus ended up in crime.”
Major consequences
According to the committee, the consequences for the children are significant. For example, some have not been able to complete their education, their relationships with family members are sometimes damaged and some have permanent mental problems.
“It's not over and isn't going away,” Hamer described one of the children's feeling. “Many relationships between parents and children are still unrestored. The effects are felt every day.”
Hamer also pointed out that this can work for generations. “The children no longer trust the government and youth care. The distrust is enormous. This will also affect their future children if they need help. The feeling that the government can take your life like that is often mentioned by the children.”
Recognition
The committee also points to the assistance that did not address the problems faced by families properly. As a result, problems such as poverty and debt were not solved quickly enough.
If it's up to the committee, this group of children should be recognized, supporting them so that they can get their lives back on track. This should include financial compensation, legal assistance and practical help. The committee is also making proposals for improving youth care, so that the number of displacements will be significantly reduced in the future.
Uncertainty about numbers
Some of the many thousands of victims of the benefits affair have been displaced from their homes. It has been unclear for years exactly how many children it is.
According to the CBS, all affected parents together have more than 68,000 children, but the Ministry of Finance is talking about more than 100,000 children. According to a CBS estimate, 2,090 children of affected parents were forcibly removed from home. The Ministry of Justice and Security says that 3,058 children were removed from their parents.
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