News item | 11-07-2025 | 15:00
Minister Van Hijum and State Secretary Nobel (SZW) present plans to simplify the system of income support in the short and long term. In a letter to the House of Representatives, they write that the current system is often incomprehensible to people and propose different improvements.
Too often, schemes within the current system of income support are unpredictable, inaccessible or unjust. That is because the legislation has become increasingly complex over the years. It causes uncertainty in people their existence and problems with implementers such as UWV, SVB and municipalities. That is why Minister Van Hijum and State Secretary Nobel argue that the system is in urgent need of reform.
Minister Van Hijum: “It is time to work on simplification now. We know that our system of regulations and laws are complicated. That thereby unnecessary mistakes are made and that people lose the road in the system. With this approach we ensure improvement: that people actually get what they are entitled to and that it is also easier to help people.”
State Secretary Nobel: “Work must pay and also if you work, you must be able to use the support that is available. It should not matter in which municipality you live. As a government we have to get rid of the crazy madness. It really has to be easier.”
Inconvenience
At the moment, too many people do not know that they are entitled to benefits or social provision. Many people are also afraid to request it for fear that they will have to repay something or find the application process complicated. The Proactive Services Bill of Minister Van Hijum regulates that UWV, SVB and municipalities can actively point out schemes to which they are entitled and help with applying. The bill will go to the Lower House this year.
Contradictory effects
There are also arrangements that work against each other. As a result, people sometimes have too little money left. In the short term, the government will investigate which groups this is, why it is and how this can be resolved. Hereby they look at examples from practice. This concerns, for example, the Surcharge Act, AIO, special assistance, problems of single earners, energy poverty and the seizure -free rate. Regulations should not work on each other in such a way that people have too little money left over.
Poverty
There are major differences between municipalities in the schemes for people who suffer from poverty. Also for children. That causes inequality. National income support schemes have also become complicated. The State Secretary will therefore work together with municipalities on a simpler and more effective (child) poverty policy, with more attention to the position of workers.
Step to work
A reform of the system is also needed for people in a benefit situation who make the step to work or want to work more hours. It is important that work pays sufficiently. In addition, the services to people and employers must also contribute to people finding their way to the labor market. One of the measures for this is a working center in every labor market region where people can go with questions about work and development.
To suggest
The ministers are working on an approach on 7 different themes, including simplifying the WIA. The first steps will be taken this year. Furthermore, the House of Representatives will deal with a bill by Minister Van Hijum this year, which regulates that a mistake does not directly lead to a fine. The whole is a structural approach that should ultimately lead to a future -proof and simpler system.