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Private debt resolution
Did you get into debt because of the childcare benefit problems? We want to solve these debts for you as much as possible. This allows you to keep the money you get from us for yourself as much as possible. And make a debt-free start. Most public debts are waived and most private debts are paid off. This page explains which private debts we will pay off and how we will do so.
Your private debts resolved in 2 steps
The government has decided to pay off private debts of affected parents and their benefit partners as much as possible. Have you received a letter confirming that you are an affected parent? And have you received €30,000 or more? Then two steps are taken.
- You can pause your debts.
- Your debts will be paid off as much as possible.
You can pause your debts
The pause starts when you have received €30,000 from us and applies only to debts incurred before the pause button took effect. This way, you do not have to use the €30,000 to pay off debts. Your benefit partner can also pause the debts.
Your debts are paid off
The government has decided to pay off private debts of affected parents as much as possible.
Desk for private debts
The desk for private debts has been in place since 5 January 2022 for the purpose of paying off debts. You can submit an overview of your private debts to the desk. This way, you do not have to make separate arrangements with each creditor.
The scheme applies to most existing payment arrears and penalties and surcharges incurred between 1 January 2006 and 1 June 2021. You must continue to pay normal (monthly) costs such as energy, water or telephone subscriptions.
Do you have any court debts? You can use the debt form to add an overview of all your court debts to your debt list at once. This option in the form will be shown to you automatically.
- Read more about the desk for private debts
- Or immediately report your debts to the desk for private debts
Examples
Example 1: You have not paid your rent or mortgage for several months
If you have not paid your rent or mortgage for several months, we will pay these arrears for you. We also pay additional costs such as interest, collection costs, penalties and surcharges. Rent or mortgage relating to the period after 31 May 2021 must be paid by you.
Example 2: You are indebted to a health insurer and these debts were incurred between 1 January 2006 and 1 June 2021
We will pay off debts to a health insurer which were incurred between 1 January 2006 and 1 June 2021. Any additional costs such as penalties and surcharges are also paid. If you receive a reminder on or after 1 June, we will also pay off the debts. Premiums and personal contributions relating to the period after 31 May 2021 must be paid by you.
Example 3: You are indebted to an energy supplier and these debts were incurred between 1 January 2006 and 31 May 2021
We will pay off debts to an energy supplier which were incurred between 1 January 2006 and 31 May 2021. We will also pay any additional costs such as penalties and surcharges. Instalment amounts relating to the period after 31 May 2021 must be paid by you.
Additional costs as well
All additional costs on top of the debts are also paid off. Examples are contractual interest, statutory interest, extrajudicial collection costs, legal costs, collection costs, enforcement costs and contractual penalties.
Please note
We do not pay off debts that were incurred through serious abuse, fraud or negligence.
Frequently asked questions about private debt resolution
I received a letter saying that I must report my debts.
You have received this letter because the moratorium on your debts is about to end. Therefore, it is important for you to report your debts to the desk for private debts as soon as possible. This is the quickest way for you to get our help. Before then, you can start listing your debts. If necessary, your municipality can help you with this.
Letter on reporting private debts (PDF, Dutch)
Details of your debts
You can send a photo or copy of an invoice or reminder of each debt. You can do this digitally via the website or by post. We request the following details of each debt:
- Name of the creditor
- Customer number or reference number
- Invoice number
- Payable amount
If the creditor is a local creditor or a particular branch, we also ask for the creditor’s website, e-mail address, telephone number and domicile, if possible.
I have not received a letter saying that I can report my debts. What does this mean?
If you have not received a letter, it means your debts remain paused. If your pause button ends within 2 months, you will be sent a letter every month. This will also give you time to list your debts. Your municipality can help you with this.
Even if you have not received a letter, you can report your debts to the desk for private debts. However, debt lists of parents whose pause button ends within 2 months are the first to be picked up.
How am I informed of the desk for private debts?
Each month, we will send a letter to parents whose moratorium (pause button) ends. For these parents, it is important that they send in their debts as soon as possible. This is the quickest way for us to help them. The desk for private debts will handle these debt lists first.
Are debts to foreign creditors paid off?
Yes, we also pay off debts to foreign creditors. We do not differentiate between Dutch and foreign creditors. For example, if you are indebted to the German government or a company, you can report this debt to the desk for private debts. Debts to a foreign government can also be reported to the desk. You cannot do that with debts to the Dutch government.
What happens to the private debts of my benefit partner?
Most private debts of your benefit partner will also be paid off. A letter about this has been sent to your benefit partner. We are still looking for a solution for ex-partners.
I am in the process of bankruptcy. Will my debts also be paid off? And can I report these debts to the desk for private debts?
Do you have personal debts due to bankruptcy? These will be paid off. You may not report these debts yourself. Only your trustee can report the debts. For this, the trustee can apply to the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration at CAP.UHT.WSNP.MSNP@belastingdienst.nl.
The trustee can only report these debts if they meet a number of conditions:
- If you have debts due to fraud, damages and criminal law, for example, they will not be paid off.
- We only resolve the debts of natural persons. This means we only resolve debts of a one-man business and not those of a public or private limited company.
- Business debts are waived up to a maximum of €200,000.
- Debts incurred because you are jointly and severally liable under the Directors’ Liability Act are also not paid off.
Once the debts have been paid off, you are entitled to the compensation amount of €30,000. Unless your company is still bankrupt, in which case this amount will go to the trustee first. The trustee will then decide what this money will be used for.
Why are you not paying off my mortgage or car? After all, these are debts too.
Have you borrowed money, for example to buy a car? And do you pay back the loan in instalments? Then we do not consider this to be a debt. We see this as a loan to provide for your own needs.
If you are behind on payments, and the costs have risen, we will pay them off for you. But we will not pay future instalments. You remain responsible for this yourself.
What happens to debts I have already paid off?
Have you used a childcare benefit restoration payment to pay off debts? If so, these paid debts will be reimbursed in some situations. Were you only later found to be a victim and did you pay off debts in the meantime? In that case, too, debts will be reimbursed.
Read more about reimbursements of paid debts
What happens to private debts when my pause button ends?
After 1 year, the pause button for your debts will end.
Private creditors will inform you of your outstanding debts. Debts incurred after 1 June 2021 must be paid by you. Do you have a debt that was incurred between 1 January 2006 and 1 June 2021? And have you not yet reported this debt to the desk for private debts? You can still report this debt as usual.
I was unable to pay health insurance premiums for several months and now have to pay a higher premium. Will this be resolved?
The childcare benefit problems have left many parents unable to pay health insurance premiums. Supplementary health insurance policies have been terminated as a result. Some parents are now in a defaulters’ scheme as a result, having to pay a higher premium to the CAK. The Dutch Tax and Customs Administration wants affected parents to quickly return to paying the normal premium and be able to take out supplementary insurance again if they wish.
If my private debt is paid off, will the associated negative registrations with the Credit Registration Office (BKR) be cancelled automatically?
Some private creditors are affiliated with the Credit Registration Office (BKR). They register agreements and arrears with the BKR. Via the BKR website, you can see which of your debts are registered with the BKR.
The negative BKR registrations of debts of affected parents will be removed by the creditor once their debts have been cancelled. For example, because they have been paid off or waived. This will be done by the creditor.
Debts that have not been cancelled will remain registered with the BKR. Examples are current credits or telephone subscriptions. Because this information is important when a parent applies for a new credit.
Can I get legal assistance to resolve my private debts?
Affected parents can get free legal assistance from a lawyer. The lawyer can also help you resolve your private debts. For example, he or she can help you report these debts to the desk for private debts. Did you report your private debts to the desk, and has SBN decided not to pay off these debts? If so, you can lodge an objection. For this, too, you can get free legal assistance.