There is some resentment among the victims, because informal debts with friends and family are only recognized if a notarial deed has been made. Many victims did not do this, partly because of the costs. The government is not taking over those debts.
3. Strengthen services
Many victims received poor or no answers to questions for years. That is why Rutte promised a year ago that government services would be improved, for example by expanding the number of locations of the Tax and Customs Administration and Allowances that you can visit.
That has happened, says the Ministry of Finance. There were already 21 counters in tax offices where people could report. Nine support centers in municipal offices have been added in the past six months, especially outside the Randstad conurbation.
4. Discrimination and the use of nationality
In his letter, Rutte referred parents who think they have been discriminated against to the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights. Victims can ask for a judgment there, 55 people have already done so.
But it will be a while before the first case is served. The Institute first wants to conduct a general investigation into discrimination in allowances. The results are expected sometime this year, until then no individual sessions will be scheduled.
5. Stop surcharges in their current form
“It is no longer possible to continue as in the past,” Rutte wrote a year ago: a new allowance system must be introduced, in which parents are no longer fully responsible for financing. That plan is also in the new coalition agreement. The first steps will have to be taken by the new State Secretary for Allowances and Customs Aukje de Vries.
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