The Benefits Agency (in the Netherlands, the Institute for Employee Benefit Schemes, Uitvoeringsinstituut Werknemersverzekeringen - UWV) has launched an investigation into dozens of false sickness benefit claims. Applications were submitted by Slovak citizens registered in the Netherlands as temporary workers. The damage from the application of this scheme has already amounted to more than 200.000 euros. Learn more about it on our website.
Foreigners who are employed temporarily in the Netherlands are entitled to sickness benefits. The right to payment remains even when the employee has already returned to his country. Find out more about how healthcare costs are reimbursed in the Netherlands, in our article.
The criminal scheme was revealed when a disproportionate number of applications for payments were received from Slovak citizens in a short time. At the same time, many statements contained the same symptoms of the disease.
In the Netherlands, about 350.000 sickness benefits are paid annually, and the number of applications from Slovaks against this background was small. However, suspicious activity must be investigated! When checking 94 applications for benefits from Slovaks, 9 cases with falsified medical data were identified. The doctors listed in the documents did not know these patients and did not draw up any documents. According to these statements, about 200.000 euros have already been paid. Another 28 applicants refused to give explanations, their payments were cancelled. In another 32 cases, the payment of benefits was denied even during the study of documents.
UWV is seeking to recover illegally paid money and is investigating whether this illegal scheme was the result of the actions of an organized crime group. However, the work of UWV is extremely difficult - the organization has no authority outside the Netherlands.
It is worth recalling a much larger fraud that occurred about 10 years ago. Then the Bulgarians came up with the scheme. Bulgarian scammers have officially hired a lot of stray animal trapping specialists for temporary work in the Netherlands. The registration was formal and pursued precisely fraudulent goals. The organizers of the scheme then managed to unreasonably receive about 6 million euros in sickness benefits. After the scheme was revealed, six criminals were sentenced to imprisonment for up to four years.
The system for providing various benefits in the Netherlands is quite confusing, and it is difficult for a non-specialist to understand it. When difficulties arise ask for help to Nalog.nl!
Publication Date: 25.10.2022
