Allowances affair - Utrecht Neighborhood Teams

Help with benefits scandal

The neighbourhood team in your district will be happy to help you make a new start. Think about:

Gaining an overview of your finances.
Reading, understanding and writing difficult letters.
Health problems, a difficult home situation, finding work, and so on.
Discussions with the Benefits Recovery Implementation Agency (UHT) or guidance in the process with the Tax Authorities.
Finding the right (mental) help for you or a family member.

You are most welcome at our information meetings. We can also put you in touch with other victims of the benefits scandal if you wish. Please contact contact with a neighborhood team in your area to discuss these and other options.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I have contacted a neighbourhood team in my district?

You will be invited for a conversation with a neighborhood team employee. They will be happy to listen to your story. After that, you will make a plan together. The neighborhood team employee will ensure that you receive the right support and will keep an overview of the help you receive.

What are the terms for broad support?

The new Allowance Recovery Operation Act will come into effect on 1 January 2025. It contains guidelines for the terms of broad support. This provides clarity to everyone about the structure and duration of broad support. Such as how long it may take to:

to have an initial conversation with you
together with you a Action plan for a new start to make. This can be a general plan
to determine together with you whether items are needed for this plan to make a fresh start
together with you to further supplement this plan with the help that is needed for a new start. And to complete it. It is possible that the help will continue afterwards.

You can find more information about this at VNG.nl. Do you have any questions about what this means for you? Feel free to contact your contact person at the neighborhood team.

What is the SPUK scheme and what does it mean for me?

SPUK stands for specific benefit. This is a sum of money that the municipality of Utrecht receives from the central government. As a victim, you are not entitled to SPUK, but you are entitled to 'broad support'. You can register with us for this. Together we will look at what is needed in your situation. For more information, see the website of the municipality of Utrecht.

What does the child arrangement entail?

Not only parents are victims of the allowance affair, children often are too. That is why the Implementation Organisation for the Recovery of Allowances (UHT) has created the child scheme for them. In addition to money, the scheme also offers support, see this video. Op www.kindregelingvoorjou.nl find more information that can help you further. You can also look at Help for children of affected parents (child arrangement) on the website of the Municipality of Utrecht.

My child has been removed from home due to the childcare allowance affair, what can I do?

For free help you can contact the Support Team (OT). The OT works with you to restore the relationship with your child(ren). If you were removed from home as a child as a result of the benefits affair, you can also contact the OT. For more information, see this website and sign up.

My ex-partner is also a victim of the benefits scandal. Is there help for this?

There has recently been a scheme for ex-partners. They receive a letter if they are entitled to help or money. More information can be found on the website from the national government.