“Some of our clients are really in trouble because of this,” says Harry Eleveld, director of healthcare institution Nederind. His foundation supports people with a light-intellectual disability who live independently. When the clients received a series of invoices, some of them phoned their counselors in panic.
“They thought the bills would stop coming because it is still corona time,” said Eleveld. “They have already spent the money that was left over. They now have to choose between paying the bills and shopping.”
The FNV trade union also fears that vulnerable people with little money will run into problems due to the technical defects at the CAK. “Again, the government is struggling with problems with computer systems and citizens are suffering as a result,” says Maureen van der Pligt, director of FNV Benefit Beneficiaries. The union is therefore arguing for a remission of the outstanding invoices.
Own risk, no worries
Earlier this week, the Ombudsman already sent an brief to the CAK and Minister De Jonge about other problems regarding the collection of the deductible for Wmo care and long-term care (Wlz). In it, he writes about signals from citizens who say that they have to pay their own risk, while they have received less or no care due to corona.
The CAK says that it has approached people via various channels with explanations and the call to keep money aside every month. Nevertheless, the CAK regrets the course of events. “As a result, customers received their invoices later than planned. We understand this is very annoying and apologize for this.” People can contact the CAK for a free payment arrangement.
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