Combating poverty in the Netherlands

1
Combating poverty in the Netherlands
Martijn Schut Stimulansz
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Poverty in the Netherlands

• 11 living below the risk-of-poverty threshold
  60 of median income
  (Eurostat)
• One-parent households, non-western immigrants
  and people on benefits have higher risk
• 6,76 of all children (0-18) live in social
  assistance households
• 1 on 8 low income households has substantial
  job (24h)

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National and local responsibilities

• National government (general benefit levels)
• National insurance
• Employee insurance
• Social assistance
• Specific benefits and compensations for housing,
  health care, children, work, etc.
• Local authorities
• Administering social assistance
• Tailormade benefits
• Directing role

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Administering social assistance

• Work and Social Assistance Act
• Local authorities receive 2 budgets
• Benefit budget
• Married couples receive 100 of net minimum wage
  ( 1.143)
• Single parents 70
• Single people 50
• Re-integration budget

5
Local income support(in addition to basic income)

• Specific individual circumstances
• Necessary
• Costs are made
• No other allowance of benefit
• Mean-tested
• No exclusion by source of income
• Generic income support for certain categories
• Longterm sick and disabled
• Elderly people
• Families with children

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Local schemes

• Tailor-made social assistance benefits
  (bijzondere bijstand)
• Discount cards to promote participation in
  socio-cultural and sports activities
• Benefits for long term poor (langdurigheidstoeslag
  )
• Collective additional health insurance for social
  assistance receivers
• Exemption from local rates
• Debt relief assistance

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Discount cards
For the poor And sometimes for higher incomes
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Debt relief assistanceand making ends meet

• Debt Repayment Act (Wsnp)
• Relief of local debts if debtor finds or accepts
  a job
• Bonus if debtor co-operates
• Budget counselling

9
Under-utilisation of income support

• Lack of knowledge
• Assuming you do not qualify
• Complexity of procedures vs. profit
• Shame and proudness
• Working poor dont know they are entitled

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Combating under-utilisation

• www.berekenuwrecht.nl (calculate your benefits)
• Benefit forms brigade
• Using existing data
• Simplifying procedures
• Informing intermediaries
• Income support through private funds

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Conclusions
Martijn Schut Martijn.schut_at_stimulansz.nl www.stim
ulansz.nl