Good news for 11,000 residents of the earthquake area with paused files. From Thursday, the Institute for Mining Damage Groningen (IMG) will offer them the option of having all damage repaired at once.
The IMG’s new working method is beneficial for residents who had pressed the ‘pause button’ on their claim for compensation since May. They were given the opportunity at the time to wait for the government’s new policy regarding claims settlement, in the hope that it would be more beneficial for them.
That has now happened. In October, State Secretary Hans Vijlbrief (Mining), in consultation with the IMG, promised an extension of the conditions that would be more accommodating to victims of earthquake damage. The credo: ‘No more arguing about the cause of damage and repair without hassle’.
Three flavors
The damage counter now offers residents the opportunity to have all mining damage up to 60,000 euros repaired in one go, without investigating the cause of the damage. This means that residents can have a contractor’s bill paid by the IMG. The IMG wants to start the actual recovery in mid-2024 and will make the necessary preparations over the next six months. The restoration must be completed within five years.
The IMG expects a lot of interest in this option for actual recovery. If the resident prefers financial compensation, there are two options. Residents at whose address no damage decision has yet been taken are eligible for compensation of 10,000 euros. Suppose a resident initially opts for actual recovery, but wants to reconsider this decision in the next six months when the details are clear, then that is possible. They will then still receive the amount of 10,000 euros or have their damage reimbursed through tailor-made solutions.
A third option is to opt for customization. The cause is investigated by an expert. Suppose that, after examination by an expert, someone turns out to have more damage than expected and does not feel like actual recovery, he or she can opt for tailor-made solutions. According to the IMG, people whose damage exceeds 60,000 euros can best opt for tailor-made solutions, but this only concerns a small group of residents.
More personal handling
With the three ‘flavors’, the IMG wants to make claims handling more personal for affected residents, following the report of the parliamentary inquiry committee. This argued that claims handling should be ‘milder, easier and more humane’. The institute will inform the 11,000 residents about the changes and offer them the opportunity to have a counselor visit them if they would like help in making a choice.
Between December 14 and January 9, the IMG will implement necessary IT changes and other system adjustments to make the new working method possible. This means that residents are temporarily unable to submit new damage reports. They can still view their file on the website. Other claimants will then also be given the opportunity to choose between the three options.
In addition to the new claims handling for people with paused files, people who received less than 10,000 euros in compensation in the past can apply for additional fixed compensation from the summer of 2024. Their past compensation will then be supplemented to 10,000 euros.