On May 7, 2025, Vicky Maeijer, the State Secretary for Social Care in the Netherlands, faced scrutiny over her lack of awareness regarding the impact of budget cuts imposed by municipalities on the country’s healthcare system. Despite being responsible for the Social Support Act (Wmo 2015), Maeijer admitted to having no overview of the cuts being made, as reported by Skipr.
Maeijer stated, "I do not have an overview of the budget cuts that municipalities are implementing." This revelation comes amid rising concerns about how these cuts affect citizens who rely on domestic help and other forms of support. She noted that municipalities are responding differently to the increasing demand for assistance, with some facing significant waiting lists for domestic help and labor market shortages.
In her responses, Maeijer highlighted that some municipalities are adopting creative solutions to manage these challenges. For instance, they may prioritize residents with urgent needs or offer financial compensation to allow individuals to arrange their own help. However, she conceded that there is no comprehensive overview of these creative measures either.
"This is a local responsibility," Maeijer emphasized, suggesting that the decision-making power lies primarily with the municipalities.
The issue gained prominence when Sarah Dobbe, a member of the Tweede Kamer (Dutch Parliament) from the Socialist Party (SP), raised concerns about the municipality of 's-Hertogenbosch reducing domestic help from once a week to once every two weeks. According to BN DeStem, this change is attributed to staff shortages and a surge in requests for assistance.
Maeijer expressed her disapproval of the situation, stating, "It is undesirable if people are wrongly promised fewer hours of help." However, when pressed by Dobbe about the legality of offering less help without a substantive reason, Maeijer refrained from providing a direct answer, reiterating that it is the municipalities' responsibility to ensure appropriate assistance is available.
Further complicating matters, the proposed reform of the Wmo is expected to significantly increase the personal contribution required from individuals receiving support. The reform, which is set to take effect on January 1, 2027, could see contributions rise to as much as €328 per month, a stark increase from the current fixed rate of around €21 per month.
These changes have raised alarms among advocacy groups. The National Institute for Budget Information (Nibud) conducted calculations for Ieder(in), the umbrella organization for people with disabilities, revealing that the reforms could place an additional financial burden on individuals with disabilities or those on fluctuating incomes.
Nibud director Arjan Vliegenthart pointed out that the proposed system would impose a steep increase in contributions, stating, "With every €100 above 135 percent of the social minimum, the personal contribution increases by €10. This is a steep rise that would mean individuals with average incomes will pay significantly more than they do now."
Moreover, the new regulations do not take age or life stage into account. Vliegenthart noted, "Someone who requires Wmo support starting at age 74 will not need it as long as someone who starts at 24 or even earlier." This lack of differentiation raises concerns about fairness and accessibility.
The legislative proposal has also sparked worries regarding its compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which the Netherlands has ratified. Deborah Lauria, director of Ieder(in), warned that the proposal could create additional barriers to accessing care for individuals with disabilities. "For people living with a lifelong disability, having a handicap will become unaffordable," she cautioned.
Lauria further emphasized that the increase in personal contributions could affect not only those with disabilities but also their caregivers, who may struggle to keep up with rising costs.
In light of these developments, the government’s commitment to providing equitable access to care is under scrutiny. Advocates are calling for the proposed reforms to be adjusted to limit the personal contribution specifically to domestic help while maintaining the current subscription rate for other forms of support.
The landscape of social care in the Netherlands is changing, and with it, the lives of many who depend on these essential services. As municipalities grapple with budget constraints and rising demand, the responsibility to ensure adequate support rests not only on local governments but also on state officials like Maeijer, who must navigate the complexities of healthcare policy and its real-world implications.
As the situation evolves, it remains to be seen how the government will respond to these challenges and whether the voices of those affected will be heard in the decision-making process.
