News item | 28-04-2023 | 15:23
In recent months, we have worked hard to explore and implement measures to reduce waiting lists and backlogs for socio-medical assessments. Possibilities for tackling hardships in the WIA system are also constantly being examined.
Due to the long waiting lists, people are unacceptably insecure about their income. At the end of last year, Minister Van Gennip (Social Affairs and Employment) announced measures to combat this. The first results show that the backlog of socio-medical assessments is stabilizing, partly because people over the age of 60 can receive a WIA claim assessment without the involvement of an insurance doctor. Still, more measures are needed. That is why, based in part on research by EY, further measures are being developed.
The safety net for employees who are (partially) unable to work for a long period of time due to illness is under pressure. We are dealing with a mismatch between the demand for and supply of socio-medical assessments. The UWV cannot meet the high demand, which means that people are insecure about their income for an unacceptably long time. The Ministry of SZW, UWV and other parties involved are working hard to reduce the arrears. Nevertheless, as recently stated in its annual report, UWV was able to carry out fewer WIA claim assessments in 2022 than in 2021. The overdue assessments are now stabilizing at 17,000.
New working method insurance doctors
One of the most important measures to combat waiting lists and backlogs is the new way of working in socio-medical assessments. Together with a multidisciplinary team, insurance doctors are responsible for a defined group of people in a Social Medical Center (SMC). This working method seems to be working out positively, both employee satisfaction and client satisfaction were higher than with the regular working method. Currently, 42 of the 130 teams nationwide work in this way. This is intended to become the new national standard from January 2025.
Abbreviated assessment of the over-60s
The measures implemented, such as the abbreviated assessment for the over-60s, seem to contribute to stabilizing the arrears. Both employees and employers also respond positively to this measure. However, in 2022, the number of grants for the Income Provision for the Fully Disabled (IVA) among the over-60s fell. This is a point of attention, because the measure must not be detrimental to people. UWV has taken measures to ensure that people who may be eligible for an IVA also receive it.
Room for improvement
EY has conducted research into options for tackling the waiting lists. This shows that there is room to improve the internal processes. By making better use of the expertise of the various professionals required for a socio-medical assessment, the UWV can serve more people and the quality of the service will increase. This working method is in line with the SMCs that UWV is already working on. In addition, EY has made thirteen other recommendations to shorten the lead time and assessment time. UWV recognizes itself in EY’s findings and will present an action plan this summer to implement the recommendations.
In the medium term, further measures are being taken to reduce the backlog, such as scrapping the ‘theoretical estimate’ for people in work. Their disability percentage is then estimated on the basis of their actual earnings. For example, the additional theoretical estimate based on an examination by an insurance doctor can be omitted.
WIA hardnesses
The WIA has hardships that need to be addressed. It has been agreed in the coalition agreement that the cabinet will investigate how hardships in the WIA can be reformed with an eye for feasibility, affordability and explainability. SZW and UWV work together in various ways to remove this. Such as improvements regarding the settlement of income in addition to the benefit, communication about the assessment system (the CBBS) and the daily wage system.
For example, it is being examined whether people can be prevented from receiving a lower benefit if they received an unemployment benefit prior to their WIA benefit. It is now possible that someone has no income for a short period, because the unemployment benefit is only paid after the end of the first month, which has an effect on the WIA benefit. In the Spring Memorandum of 2023, resources have been made available to tackle this bottleneck. In addition, UWV is working on improving its processes and communication, so that people who work alongside their benefits know better what they can expect with regard to the settlement of income.
OCTAS
Last year, Minister Van Gennip set up the independent committee for the future disability scheme (OCTAS). The committee is tasked with providing thorough and comprehensive advice on a future-proof system that is feasible, affordable and explainable for jobseekers, workers, employers, the implementation and people who rely on that system. Ultimately, the minister wants to work towards a system that is feasible, affordable and explainable for jobseekers, workers, employers, implementing organizations and the people who must or want to make use of that system. After the summer of 2023, the OCTAS will deliver its first intermediate product, in the form of a problem analysis. The final report will be published in the first quarter of 2024.