More than one in three unemployed people who lost their benefits already applied for a living wage: “OCMWs see many distressing situations”

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According to the VVSG, social workers in the OCMWs note that many of these people are “suffering from multiple problems at the same time”. “Other areas of life, just like activation, often received too little attention. This may have reduced their chances of finding work. This mainly concerns heavy debts and financial stress, their own health problems or care for people in the immediate area and insecure or unsuitable housing.”

In social research, OCMWs not only examine whether someone is entitled to a living wage. They map all areas of life and, together with the person, look for steps that also address other bottlenecks. “OCMWs notice that people are often surprised by this: they mainly expect a ‘yes or no’ on the living wage, but they also receive questions about housing, debts, health… That broader conversation makes problems visible more quickly and helps them to be tackled in a more targeted manner.”

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It is not yet clear how many applications will be refused. “It is too early to make any statements about this now,” the VVSG said in the press release. “The files are in various phases of investigation and follow-up.”