News item | 21-10-2022 | 13:45
A total of 57,400 people have reported as possible victims. More than 55,000 (97%) have had the first test. So far, more than 27,000 people (about half of the applicants) have been recognized as victims. This is stated in the progress report for the Recovery Operation Allowances that State Secretary De Vries (Supplies and Customs) sent to the House of Representatives. Recognized victims immediately receive an amount of 30,000 euros, help in dealing with their debts and broad support from their municipality. This is followed by an integral assessment of their file.
Helping parents better
State Secretary De Vries: “We are continuously working on accelerating and improving the recovery operation. Parents – and rightly so – want to be able to pick up their lives again. That always comes first. And it’s not just about financial compensation, but certainly also about recognition of what they’ve been through and help with their emotional recovery.”
A number of practical tests are currently underway. In this, improvement measures are tested in practice, with the aim of increasing parent satisfaction and speed:
- A trial to increase the role of the personal case handler (PZB’er);
- A trial with settlement agreements for duped parents;
- A trial with mediation in the event of an objection.
If these practical tests lead to a positive result, they will be expanded.
In a number of municipalities, three meetings are underway. These are conversations between parents, UHT and the municipality in the context of the integral assessment of files. The intention is that these kinds of talks will take place in municipalities throughout the country in the short term (first quarter of 2023).
Child arrangement
Everything is also being prepared for the implementation of the child scheme. Children of victimized parents receive a sum of money, depending on their age, as support. In addition, they are also offered broad support by municipalities, based on the needs that they themselves express. The House of Representatives recently approved the Bill for Recovery Operation Allowances, which regulates this. The debate on the bill in the Senate is scheduled for November 1, 2022. If it also gives the green light, the implementation of the Child Scheme can start.
Counter already paid debts
The counter for debts already paid will be opened on 28 September 2022. This is a scheme for parents who have used their compensation to pay arrears with private creditors, who would otherwise have fallen under the debt approach. Public debts paid before January 1, 2021 with compensation can also be submitted to the counter.
The first group of affected parents, who received compensation of €30,000 before March 1, 2021, could apply from the end of September to Sociale Banken Nederland (SBN) for debts that they have paid off with the compensation amount received. The counter will open for the rest of the parents at the end of November.
Bottlenecks
Much is already happening, but there is still much work to be done. In addition to the above developments, there are a number of bottlenecks in the recovery operation. This is also reported on in the progress report.
Affected parents can turn to the Actual Damage Commission (CWS) if they have already received compensation, but have additional damage. Last summer, research was conducted into the way in which the CWS carries out its assignment and into possible improvements. We are working on the recommendations.
It is also the case that parents have to wait a long time for the start of their integral assessment. This is due to the high number of applications and the complexity of such an assessment. This leads to exceeding the statutory deadlines and a large number of objections about this. The progress report states which measures have been taken.