News item | 09-02-2024 | 2:30 PM
The government wants to make it possible for UWV, SVB and municipalities to actively inform people of benefits and facilities to which they may be entitled. The government wants to promote the use of schemes and increase social security. Minister Van Gennip of Social Affairs and Employment and Minister Schouten for Poverty Policy, Participation and Pensions are opening the bill that regulates this for internet consultation from today.
Many people do not know that they are entitled to benefits, provisions or other support from the government. Or do not use the arrangements available to them for other reasons. As a result, people may end up below the social minimum and the risk of financial worries, poverty and debt increases.
The government wants to counter this and believes it is important that schemes reach the people who are entitled to them. The bill therefore stipulates that UWV, SVB and municipalities may exchange and process personal data to determine whether people are entitled to benefits or other support. The organizations can use their own data for this and exchange data with each other. They can also request data from other parties. They may then actively inform people of their (possible) right to benefits or support.
SVB and UWV have already exchanged data on a trial basis and through a temporary arrangement to gain insight into people who are probably wrongly not making use of the Supplementary Income Provision for the Elderly (AIO). The bill makes more of these types of proactive initiatives possible. The implementing organizations cannot grant benefits or facilities with this service. This requires someone to submit an application themselves, as is currently the case. They can help make an application.
Guaranteeing privacy
What the services provided by UWV, SVB and municipalities will look like will be laid out in a ministerial regulation. This will include, among other things, what data the implementing organizations may process, how this is done and what technical and organizational measures they must take to guarantee privacy as much as possible. The bill contains a so-called ‘opt-out option’. This means that people are not approached if they indicate that they do not wish to receive the service. The data for proactive services may only be used to direct people to support and to help with a request, not for example to monitor or control.