More than 60,000 Dutch people with UWV benefits unnecessarily live below the social minimum. They can supplement their income through the Supplementary Benefits Act, but ignore that extra money.
The Labor Inspectorate reported this on Tuesday based on its own research. This concerns Dutch people who receive benefits from the UWV. This could, for example, be a Wajong benefit (Disability Provision for Young Disabled Persons Act) or a WAO benefit (Disability Insurance Act).
Social minimum
Because such a benefit is often not sufficient for the social minimum, these people can supplement their income through the Supplementary Benefits Act. The social minimum for married people during the study was €1,635 gross per month. For a single person aged 21 or over it was €1,203 gross per month. This minimum is seen as the financial lower limit to live on.
However, few benefit recipients make use of this. Of the people who receive a Wajong benefit and are entitled to an additional allowance, as many as 68% do not take advantage of it. For older unemployed people with an IOW benefit (Income Provision for the Older Unemployed Act), this percentage is 56%. The percentage is also high among other groups with UWV benefits.
Unknown law
Many citizens are therefore entitled to money, but do not receive it. This means that they unnecessarily live below the social minimum. According to the researchers at the Labor Inspectorate, this is because people are simply not familiar with the Benefits Act. Citizens must apply for their income supplement themselves, but the UWV says that not everyone can do this themselves.
The researchers also see that the UWV is not allowed to view all personal data of customers and possible partners. This means that file links are not possible, although this is necessary to proactively approach non-users.