The fact that entire families have been crushed is because the system is not humane. And because politicians and journalists judge too quickly with “diva behavior” and demand a tough approach, according to benefits parent Jurgen Deceuninck.
Drenthe benefit parents Jurgen and Gerda Deceuninck nodded approvingly on Monday at the presentation of the final report of the parliamentary inquiry committee into fraud policy and services in the House of Representatives. “We had confidence in the committee and fortunately that was well-founded,” said Jurgen Deceuninck afterwards.
“I like that the committee spares no one,” Deceuninck responds. He continues: “Not politicians, not civil servants, not journalists either. The entire system has dehumanized people. This not only applied to the benefits affair but also in Groningen and also applies to immigration policy. It’s basically because people become a number and we don’t sit around the table together.”
One of the committee’s recommendations is that there should be a ‘right to contact with the government’. Because people could not explain why they had made a mistake, they were immediately registered as fraudsters. “Human contact is the key,” says Deceuninck.
Telephone operators say why they don’t want to speak to someone
“The report also clearly states that everyone is entitled to the protection of their fundamental rights and must be treated humanely,” Deceuninck continues. “That has not gone well too often. I have seen blinded files from the Tax Authorities in which telephone operators explain to each other why they do not want to speak to someone. They make judgments about people that the dogs do not like and that are not substantiated by any psychiatrist or any other authority. It is therefore also important that staff take their social responsibility.”
The report also describes how an overly strict approach to fraud has been introduced due to an interaction between politicians and journalists. Deceuninck calls this “ego or diva behavior”. According to him, both journalists and politicians have too often had the tendency to want to ‘score’ by advocating a tough approach to fraud. “That has gone completely crazy, resulting in this.”
From now on, an eye for people
Although they are still far from out of debt and have not yet completely returned their children, Deceuninck is satisfied with the presentation on Monday.
“We are no longer just concerned with our own file. There must now be a blank page, the entire system must be changed. It clearly states that from now on the government must always have an eye for the people. This not only means something for people who have to pay back benefits, but also for foreigners, earthquake victims in Groningen and other people in trouble.”