More than three hundred people have shared their stories with WIA after it emerged that their benefit applications were incorrectly evaluated by UWV. Almost all of them have complaints about how their disability was determined.
There is a lot of suffering behind every story. Financial problems, incorrect or non-existent medical assessments and people who, according to the UWV, can perform certain jobs while their illness does not allow it at all or have no work experience at all. This is a selection of the problems and unpleasant experiences of people with disabilities with the UWV.
Years of legal battle
A man talks about a friend who is not eligible for WIA. According to the UWV, the friend is not disabled enough to receive benefits and can still perform in a managerial position. “My friend is in his 60s and has done heavy production work his entire life. He has a progressive condition, polyarthritis, with complaints in his hands, wrists and neck. He has never worked with computers in his entire working life.”
“He also doesn’t particularly use computers. He has no typing or computer skills or knowledge of automated systems.” Years of legal battles yielded no results, and in the meantime he was forced to sell his house due to the financial problems that arose.
From complete rejection to complete approval
A woman writes that she was rejected outright in 2019 because she had an acquired brain injury in addition to autism. When things improved a little over three years later, she reported herself to the UWV because she wanted to work a few hours a week under supervision. She had to be re-examined first and that’s where things went wrong.
“An insurance doctor in training agreed with me 100 percent,” she says. “My benefits were completely stopped within two months. I objected. My doctor explained to this insurance doctor in training that I could never work full-time. ‘I’m not saying that,’ she replied, but the benefits would be stopped. My objection was dismissed.” Ultimately, a judge forced UWV to file the case again. Within a month, the application was dismissed outright.
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Investigating errors in assessments
EenVandaag’s investigative editors have repeatedly drawn attention to problems at the UWV that cause errors in WIA assessments. This in turn can have consequences for the amount and duration of benefits. A sample from the UWV benefits agency last year showed that half of the files examined contained errors or lacked evidence. A study of files of people with disabilities who had long-term Covid recently found that three-quarters of the files contained errors.
Following this report, hundreds of people reported their stories via chat, email, or reporting point. Remarkably, two-thirds of those who reported were women. It’s not just disabled people who have to deal with WIA, but also Wajongers. They describe similar issues. In all cases, we asked the people we’re using as examples for permission to use their story (anonymously).
Steps towards politics
Outgoing Minister Karen Van Gennep announced during her last debate in the House of Representatives that there should be more clarity after the summer about the errors that occurred in the UWV assessments. This was in response to reports about the internal UWV sample. She also said that it was up to her successor Eddie Van Heegum to amend the design and implementation of the WIA system. In the meantime, our investigation into the issues related to the WIA assessments continues.
If you haven’t shared your story yet and would like to do so, you can still do so via this link To our reporting point. All reports are read and treated confidentially.
Not taken seriously
Stories vary from person to person, but a number of things stand out. The feeling that people are not heard and not taken seriously by the UWV comes up regularly in the stories. Complaints are also made about medical incompetence or the rejection of physical and mental complaints. About a third of reporters indicate that they have filed an objection or appeal.
Many people also report long Covid: a quarter of the stories are about this disease. “The doctor concluded that I was exaggerating my complaints,” one wrote. “The assessment is stressful and takes a lot of energy, which I have already limited.” Other reporters also identify with this picture. In addition to lung Covid, we also see it in the stories of many people with acquired brain injuries, chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), post-traumatic stress disorder, and various types of cancer.
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