THE LIFE OF ASYLUM SEEKERS IN THE NETHERLANDS
By: JJosephaNews
Reading Time: 2:10 mins.
Twitter: @JJosephaNews
Willemstad, Curacao. According to the Netherlands, Asylum seekers (Statushouders) run a high risk of experiencing long-term financial difficulties. This is partly due to a lack of basic knowledge of the Dutch language and the financial system. But also because of unprocessed traumatic events and the lack of a social network. They also often incur additional costs and have no financial buffer. Which is a lack of their financial cushion, money they set aside so they can pay for unexpected, major, and necessary costs right away if they come up.
THE STRUGGLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET
National ombudsman; Mr. Reinier van Zutphen: “On paper, status holders are entitled to a social minimum, but in practice they struggle to make ends meet. The government is not always aware of the life situation and the special needs of the beneficiaries. It is now too complicated for these citizens to participate without financial concerns.”
On January 1, 2022, the new Civic Integration Law 2021 came into force. While this new system is promising, the Ombudsman is not sure that all the problems identified above are now being resolved. A big concern is status holders who do not benefit from the new law.
TRANSLATION: [Felicity: 10% - Fidelity: 90% ]
BOTTLENECKS and RECOMMENDATIONS
Several bottlenecks emerge from the study. For example, the ombudsman finds that financial guidance and the way beneficiaries receive financial relief differ greatly from one municipality to another. Status holders also have to deal with many different government agencies. This creates problems when they don't work well together. Finally, the administrative reality does not correspond to the life situation of the beneficiaries. In his report, the Ombudsman makes four recommendations to various government agencies to resolve these bottlenecks.
TRANSLATION: [Felicity: 10% - Fidelity: 90% ]
FIRST OF THREE STUDIES
About a million Dutch people have to survive on incomes around the social minimum. Many of them cannot stay financially afloat. But it is precisely they who have to deal with the most complex regulations in practice. The changes have great consequences for the installations to be received and a small mistake can lead to an accumulation of problems. Therefore, the National Ombudsman carries out a total of three investigations on social minimums. The investigation into status holders is the first to be completed. After the summer, the Ombudsman will publish the second and third surveys, to young people up to 21 years old on social assistance and young people with disabilities.
TRANSLATION: [Felicity: 10% - Fidelity: 90% ]
OVERALL TRANSLATION: FELICITY:10% / FIDELITY:90%
PAPIAMENTU/DUTCH : ENGLISH
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