News item | 07-09-2023 | 16:31
In order to improve and accelerate the handling of additional damage for affected parents, a change must be made in the working method and composition of the Actual Damage Committee (CWS). The aim of the adjustments is to ensure that the work of the committee is better aligned with what parents need. The new design should ensure that more parents are helped faster. In this way, backlogs can be cleared up.
It is important that parents should not experience any inconvenience during the changes at the CWS. State Secretary Aukje de Vries of Benefits and Customs wrote this today in a letter to the House of Representatives. The new working method is in line with the measures that the government took earlier this year to improve and accelerate the integrated assessment and handling of requests for compensation for additional damage. The government aims to offer parents the option of a more coarse-grained route for compensation for additional damage early next year, using standard amounts. This requires good coherence with the work of the CWS, which also has an important role for parents who choose to receive an individual, more detailed damage calculation.
In order to help affected parents as quickly as possible, it is also necessary to catch up on the backlog at the CWS. The queue has grown to approximately 1350 parents. The average number of files handled per week has also decreased compared to 2022, while the size of the organization doubled. Partly based on previous advice from ABDTOPconsult, the government also plans to make adjustments to the structure and composition of the committee. For example, the cabinet wants to appoint a new chairman who will have to shape the reorganization in the short term and reconstitute the committee. It is also the intention that the CWS will have an operational director who will improve the effectiveness of the organization.
In addition, the cabinet has opted for a smaller number of committee members who will work more hours. This should ensure a more efficient working method and greater availability so that more parents can be helped faster. In the new working method, more preparatory work will be done by the (official) damages lawyers so that the committee members can assess and ensure consistency.
With the measures, the government also wants to ensure that parents’ satisfaction with the treatment increases by involving them earlier and offering them the opportunity to express their views. The government also hopes to reduce the number of parents who object.