Kids in benefits scandal tell about living in poverty, devastated families in new report
A new report based on reports to five local youth ombudsmen details the consequences the benefits scandal had on the children in the affected families. Over 1,800 young people shared their experiences with living in poverty, families falling apart, losing their homes, being placed in foster care, or having to take out student loans so that their siblings can eat, among other things, NOS reports.
Many of these young people reported that their childhoods had been stolen from them as they became partly responsible for helping their families survive, Stans Goudsmit, the youth ombudsman in the Rotterdam-Rijnmond region, told the broadcaster. “Until now, the focus has mainly been on the parents, while the children are often overlooked.”
One of the victims who contributed to the report is 30-year-old Chantal. “The childcare benefits scandal had a huge impact on my life. Our family fell apart due to pressure and stress,” she said to NOS. As one of seven children, she was forced to quickly choose a study direction with which she could get a loan and eventually make money so that she could help support her family. She took on a full-time business economics course and also worked 40 hours a week at a drug store.
Her parents used her debit card with her student loans to pay bills and buy food. “They couldn’t use their own accounts because that money was immediately seized. They used my debit card to survive. So you can’t say: ‘You chose a loan.’ It was absolutely necessary.”
Business economics was not what Chantal wanted to do with her life. “I had to continue studying to secure funding. But I would rather have chosen a different program. I ideally want to do social work, but I only realized that later because the financial worries and stress prevented me from developing my identity earlier.”
Chantal’s story is far from unique, ombudsman Goudsmit told NOS. Many young people borrowed from the education agency DUO to support their families. The report also shows that the benefits scandal impacted their academic progress. “They incurred significantly higher DUO debts. Many did not complete their studies, experienced study delays, or are pursuing a lower level of education. This needs to be made clear, and the government needs to address it,” Goudsmit said.
The children of benefits scandal parents have received compensation. For children who are now adults, the amount is €10,000. The ombudsmen don’t think that’s enough to address the damage done to these young people.
The report shows that many young people still struggle with chronic stress, mental health problems, low self-esteem, and a sense of hopelessness. Many have no faith in the government and are actively avoiding benefits to which they are entitled. The ombudsmen consider this very worrying. Distrust is passed on to children and can reverberate for generations to come, Goudsmit said.
Chantal agrees with this. “Things are better now, and I’m happy with my husband. But the one thing I strive for: that my children never have to borrow money from DUO,” she told the broadcaster. Her student debt still haunts her. “Because of my student debt, we can’t buy a home. And honestly, I don’t even dare to look at how much that debt is.”
The ombudsmen will present their report to the caretaker State Secretary for Benefits and the caretaker Minister of Education this afternoon. “We hope for a response that does justice to the young people. They want to be recognized, just like their parents. They want to resume their studies without getting into debt again. They deserve perspective, and they hope that their debts will also be forgiven,” Goudsmit said.
