Mistakes with disability benefits could affect tens of thousands; Some may have to repay

Benefits agency UWV has made mistakes with the calculation of WIA (Income according to Working Capacity Act) benefits for years. Possibly tens of thousands of people who received this disability benefit may have received a too-high or too-low amount. Some may have to pay money back, Minister Eddy van Hijum of Social Affairs said in a letter to parliament, NOS reports.

Netherlands residents are entitled to a WIA benefit if they have been ill for over two years and are, therefore, unable to work or are less able to work.

“It is painful that we make mistakes,” the UWV said. “It is a drastic moment in people’s lives. You then expect us to make a good assessment and provide the correct benefit.” The UWV has launched an in-depth investigation into errors made and expects the results in December.

UWV director Johanna Hirscher said that the benefits agency has been flooded with WIA applications for years. “We have been receiving more applications every year for years,” she said. “[The UWV] has paid a great deal of attention to helping people who apply in time. We have paid too little attention to the quality of our calculations.” At this stage, the agency can’t say how many people are affected.

In his letter to parliament, Minister Van Hijum spoke of a “substantial number of inaccuracies” in WIA benefits since 2020. “Despite the caveat that the picture is not yet complete, it cannot be ruled out that tens of thousands of benefits have not been determined correctly,” he said. He said that “where necessary, people may still receive the benefit they are entitled to.” And that they are looking into cases in which benefits must be reclaimed.

A UWV spokesperson told NOS that, in principle, people don’t have to repay benefits if they received too much due to an error by the UWV. But if people could reasonably have known that they were receiving too much money, that will be examined extra carefully, the spokesperson said.

Trade union FNV spoke of “a total disaster” and demanded that the government tackle the system. “The consequences are comparable to the benefits scandal as far as I’m concerned,” vice-chair Kitty Jong told NOS Radio 1 Journaal. “I would almost say, UWV: you only had one task, and you messed it up.”

“We are not talking about people who received this news in a hammock in Bali. We are talking about people who received a bit too much money and really did not benefit enormously from it. For them, this is a massive blow,” Jong said.

The National Clients’ Council (LCR) will discuss the UWV's “careless assessments and calculations” with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment next week, chair Fatma Koser Kaya told NOS. “The incorrect calculations by the UWV when it comes to WIA benefits show once again that the legislation and regulations surrounding disability are very complicated. Citizens have been the victims of this, and that can never be the intention.”