Reimbursing complex cases (allowance parents) is almost at a standstill
NOS News•Yesterday, 09:50
Reimbursing complex cases (allowance parents) is almost at a standstill
- Marleen de Rooy political reporter
The cabinet has still failed to provide full compensation to benefit parents with complex problems. There is a queue of around 4525 people at the Commission for Actual Injury, which has to deal with the most complicated cases. In recent years, only 641 cases have been dealt with, according to documents from the Ministry of Finance.
Since 2020, work has been underway to provide financial compensation for parents who have been unfairly labeled as fraudsters by the tax authorities. The handling of relatively simple cases goes according to plan, but there is a major problem with complex cases. This includes, for example, parents whose children have been removed from home or who have lost their jobs and homes.
The cabinet hopes to have dealt with this group within three years, but that seems wishful thinking. A report by consulting firm Berenschot last April showed that the CWS reviews a maximum of five files per week. At the time, the consultancy already warned that the processing would take so long, and “that this is socially unacceptable from the perspective of parents”.
'Terrified of paying overpay'
Al sooner municipalities and lawyers raised the alarm at the Actual Damage Commission. That is why the committee has been working with new rules and fixed amounts since this summer, but this does not seem to have any effect yet.
Social lawyer Narda Teke-Bozkurt is also very concerned. “The recovery operation has become a recovery hell. Answers are months away.”
Teke-Bozkurt assists 150 people who are on hold at the committee. “The committee is terrified of paying one euro too much to the affected parents. Everything is calculated to the decimal point, so it comes to a complete standstill.”
Alternate routes
Affected parents who have major problems due to the treatment of the tax authorities can apply for compensation in various ways. Recently, the Foundation for (Equal) Worthy Recovery, first chaired by Princess Laurentien, has been in the news. The foundation and the ministry are once again at odds. This mainly concerns the burden of proof that victims have for compensation. The foundation is based on trust; the ministry wants to see receipts and evidence.
In response to Parliamentary questions, Secretary of State for Allowances Ahabar says she still thinks that all actual damage will be compensated by 2027. It is expected that some of the parents in the current queue will still turn to the Equal Recovery Foundation with the faster approach. “The starting point is that parents can choose the treatment that best suits their situation.”
frustrating
However, scaling up that alternative route is also not going as smoothly as expected, Achahbar says in a response. “And that's frustrating for parents and their families.” The ministry is now in consultation with the SGH about the growing delay.
“You don't have to be clairvoyant to see that 2027 will never be reached,” says Narda Teke-Bozkurt. According to her, the only solution is for the Ministry to give the Equal (Worthy) Recovery Foundation plenty of space to go further to help people. “Only then can you really speed up.”
Today, the House is talking about the problems with processing.
Compensation rules
Victims must go through various steps to be compensated. After a short assessment, they have already received a compensation of 30,000 euros. But those who think they are entitled to more will receive a comprehensive comprehensive assessment from the Implementation Organization for Recovery of Allowances.
A total of 68,376 parents reported as victims and 38,787 parents were recognized as victims. Around 70 percent of the registered parents have now had an integral assessment.
After that, people who have experienced more damage can report to one of the four damage routes. This is therefore often about the very severely affected victims. One such route is the Actual Damage Commission. The Equal Recovery Foundation is also a route that parents can take.
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