News item | 04-11-2022 | 15:20
In order to improve the sustainability of the Social Support Act (Wmo), the government is making a number of adjustments to the system. The most important adjustment is the introduction of an appropriate personal contribution for domestic help from 1 January 2025, taking more account of the financial capacity of households. In practical terms, this means that households with an income above 185% of the social minimum (in 2021 this was approximately € 30,000 for a single person entitled to AOW) will pay a higher personal contribution. With this, State Secretary Van Ooijen is implementing the agreement in the coalition agreement to introduce a fairer personal contribution for domestic help. The bill will go into internet consultation one of these days.
State Secretary Van Ooijen (VWS): “In recent years it has become clear that the current fixed rate for domestic help, which is the same for every household that has to pay a contribution, has led to a significant growth in the number of applicants. It is striking that the percentage growth is particularly strong among higher income groups. This means that the accessibility of Wmo facilities is coming under pressure for residents in a vulnerable financial or personal situation. That is why it has been agreed in the coalition agreement to introduce a fairer personal contribution for domestic help. Today we are taking an important step towards introducing that fairer personal contribution.”
Appropriate personal contribution as of 2025
For most households, the introduction of an appropriate personal contribution for domestic help means that they will still continue to pay €19 per month. For households with an income above 185% of the social minimum, the personal contribution will gradually increase as the income increases (in 2021, 185% of the social minimum for a single person entitled to AOW was approximately €30,000). For a household with an income of € 1000 above that limit, the monthly personal contribution will be approximately € 6.70 higher. From an income of approximately € 66,000, the maximum personal contribution of € 255 per month will apply. These amounts may still change based on the indexation.
110 million euros extra to municipalities
In addition, it has been agreed in the Integrated Care Agreement that municipalities will receive an extra €110 million per year from 2025 for Wmo facilities. Where the new appropriate personal contribution therefore reduces the need for domestic help, this agreement in the Integral Care Agreement ensures that from 2025 there will be structurally more money available for (other) Wmo facilities, such as adaptations in the home, a stair lift. or day care for the elderly.
Pressure on facilities due to fixed low rate
Since the introduction of the Wmo subscription rate, households can make use of certain Wmo facilities from 2019 for a fixed rate of €19 per month, regardless of income, assets or usage. Despite the positive effect of this on implementation practice and the accumulation of healthcare costs, it also appears that the use of domestic help within the Social Support Act has increased more than expected due to the subscription rate. For the other Wmo provisions, this pressure on provisions is limited and the subscription rate remains the same for all incomes.