In a significant shake-up at the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV), Johanna Hirscher has resigned as a board member amid ongoing controversies surrounding the agency's handling of disability benefits. Her departure, announced on April 1, 2025, comes as a result of a "difference of opinion" regarding the agency's approach to its persistent issues, particularly the mismanagement of WIA (Work and Income According to Labor Capacity Act) assessments.
The UWV confirmed Hirscher's resignation, emphasizing that the decision was influenced by mounting concerns over errors in disability benefit calculations and significant backlogs in social-medical assessments. "With pain in my heart, I say goodbye to UWV and urge The Hague: make quick decisions that truly simplify the WIA and related regulations. The time for discussion and reports is over," Hirscher stated in her resignation announcement.
Hirscher's resignation highlights long-standing problems within the UWV, particularly regarding the WIA assessments. These assessments have been plagued by delays, with some applicants waiting over six months to receive decisions, leaving them in financial limbo. As of 2024, approximately 1,100 individuals were still facing such delays.
In addition to the backlog, the UWV has acknowledged years of miscalculating WIA benefits, with errors ranging from minor discrepancies to significant miscalculations exceeding 1,184 euros per month. A 2021 audit revealed that 31 percent of cases contained errors in calculating the "maatmanloon" (reference wage), which is crucial for determining benefits. Alarmingly, in some instances, error rates reached as high as 60 percent. Such errors have had dire consequences for claimants; for example, those mistakenly deemed less than 35 percent disabled received no benefits at all, while others missed out on allowances designated for severe disabilities.
Despite internal warnings since at least 2020 about these issues, UWV leadership reportedly failed to take appropriate action. Legal experts have criticized the agency for addressing only minor issues while overlooking deeper systemic flaws. "The findings are worse than we suspected," said Jean Louis van Os of Advocaten Collectief Tilburg, in comments to Een Vandaag. "This is the foundation of the benefits system, and it’s completely flawed."
In response to the escalating crisis, Minister of Social Affairs Eddy van Hijum announced last week that the UWV would reassess 43,000 disability benefit cases. This decision follows an investigation that uncovered widespread errors in benefit calculations. Many beneficiaries have been underpaid for years, while others received excess payments that now require correction. Legislators are warning that the actual number of affected individuals may be much higher than currently reported.
"Re-evaluating these cases will take years. The process risks becoming completely bogged down unless the minister intervenes," said GroenLinks-PvdA lawmaker Mariëtte Patijn. In light of these challenges, Patijn has proposed a lump-sum payment of 5,000 euros for all individuals harmed by incorrect benefit payments. This proposal aims to offer a swift resolution for affected individuals, allowing them to bypass the lengthy reassessment process.
Patijn's proposal suggests that for some individuals, the lump-sum payment may exceed their actual losses, while for others, it might not fully cover damages. However, it provides the option for immediate financial clarity. The proposed payment would not affect eligibility for other benefits, which is a crucial consideration for many claimants.
While the total cost of this compensation plan remains unclear, Patijn argues that it could ultimately reduce government spending by minimizing the need for extensive file reviews. "Examining tens of thousands of cases requires hundreds of staff members. If many people accept this lump-sum payment, it will ease the burden on the UWV and the Tax Authority, preventing the system from collapsing," she explained.
The issues surrounding the UWV and its management of disability benefits are set to be addressed again in the Tweede Kamer, the Dutch parliament, where the problems with WIA assessments will be discussed. Hirscher's resignation may serve as a catalyst for renewed scrutiny and action on these pressing issues.
As the debate continues, many are left wondering how the UWV will navigate its current challenges and what measures will be taken to restore confidence in the agency's ability to manage disability benefits effectively. With Hirscher's departure, there is hope that her bold move will prompt necessary reforms and lead to more transparent and efficient operations within the UWV.
