Overview
- Minister Hans Vijlbrief told parliament the WIA system is alarming and said intervention is unavoidable to keep it executable and affordable.
- The cabinet is preparing simplification measures that include scrapping the separate IVA benefit for fully and permanently disabled people.
- More than 600,000 people rely on WIA and the average wait for assessments has stretched to about six months at the UWV.
- Finance Minister Eelco Heinen flagged a WIA budget setback of more than €1 billion ahead of the voorjaarsnota, drawing criticism from D66.
- Vijlbrief defended Heinen’s disclosure and said precise numbers and options will be presented in the spring budget update.