According to Asante of the National Client Council, the more fundamental problem has not been solved. “The Dutch system of different benefits is too complicated. There are all different jars and boxes. That leads to very complicated application processes and as a client you are responsible for almost everything.”
“That’s asking for trouble,” she says. “A mistake is made in no time, even without you being aware of it. You often run the risk of a recovery. In this case, the UWV has solved it neatly, but we know that it often happens less neatly.”
Asante argues that when people move from work to unemployment or illness, they are given the time and space to work on recovery and improving their labor market position. “Without them having to worry about: have I passed this on to the UWV, the Tax Authorities, the municipality, the Social Insurance Bank? That red tape creates a lot of stress.”
‘Better balance’
After the allowance affair, the government is now really working differently than it used to, says Gijsbert Vonk, professor of social security law at the University of Groningen. “That affair has created a climate in which to make this decision.”
According to him, it is a first sign that the very strict recovery regime in social security is regaining some balance. “It’s a better balance between the state’s interest in recovering money and how it arrives at the individual citizen who is not aware of any harm in this case.”
More humanity in legislation
Asante of the Client Council believes that there has not yet been a fundamental change. “I think that’s too early to applaud. The real change has to come from politics. They are the clients of implementing organizations such as the UWV. And they must ensure that there is more humanity in the legislation and that more customization is offered.”
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