News item | 19-12-2025 | 6:00 PM
To prevent people with debts from having too little money left to live on, creditors must be able to exchange information better. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment wants to set up a digital system with a new law. Creditors must report this if they seize, so that it is clearer sooner if multiple organizations claim part of the income or benefit.
It may happen that multiple parties, such as government services and private creditors, seize simultaneously. Because creditors are not always aware of each other’s claims, the attachment-free amount is sometimes incorrectly calculated. The attachment-free threshold is intended to guarantee a minimum income for people with debts. The result is that every year about 60,000 to 70,000 people have too little money left to live on.
If a party wants to make a seizure in the future, it must first check in the digital system whether there are already other organizations that have seized an income or settled an outstanding debt on a benefit. If necessary, they can request additional information and calculate whether people have enough money to pay off more debts.
People with debts and debt counselors also have access to the digital system. This way they can keep an overview of current attachments and settlements.
Save costs
In addition, creditors will soon be able to better estimate the likelihood of getting their money before they seize assets. If that chance is small, they can choose not to seize. This means they incur fewer unnecessary costs. Creditors now impose around 27,000 seizures every year without results. Creditors can save around €5 million by waiving these attachments. Garnishees also save extra costs because they can exchange information more quickly.
The draft bill is now available for inspection. You can respond until February 6, 2026 via the Internet consultation of the Streamlining Chain for Third-Party Attachment Act.