People who purchase their own care with their personal budget are facing too many tasks, according to the Social Insurance Bank (SVB). They will soon be seen as employers, even if they have a neighbor clean the house weekly, for example.
The SVB is sounding the alarm in a letter to the House of Representatives. The bank states that people who purchase their own care are entitled to a personal budget (pgb), but that too many rules and tasks are coming their way.
People can use their pgb to engage someone from their own network for help. Think of a friend who helps with groceries. Those acquaintances receive money for this from the SVB.
But in recent years, many rules have been added to protect employees. People working for pgb holders are likely to receive even more employee rights through a new bill that will take effect on January 1. As a result, those who purchase assistance must comply with more rules.
For example, pgb holders are required to continue paying the person who comes to help for up to three months after they terminate the employment. This conflicts with the rule that only money from the pgb may be paid for actual hours worked.
Person with care demand must conduct assessment interview
Probably about fifteen thousand pgb holders will soon be employers. Now there are still two thousand. For example, they are also responsible for the reintegration process of their caregiver if they unexpectedly become ill. Assessment interviews must also be conducted.
“Among the budget holders are people who need 24-hour care,” an SVB spokesperson tells NU.nl. “So they have to meet all these obligations. Complying with all laws and regulations is complicated, stressful, and threatens to become unfeasible for budget holders.”
The insurance bank proposes classifying non-professional caregivers under a volunteer scheme. This would eliminate the many rules and obligations. According to the SVB, many caregivers from their own network are not dependent on the pgb money they earn by helping for a small number of hours.