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Parents now living abroad
Are you currently living abroad, but did you receive childcare benefit in the Netherlands? And was that childcare benefit discontinued between 2005 and 2019 and you don't know why? If that is the case, you may be entitled to support and assistance, just like parents living in the Netherlands.
Keep in mind though that some things work a little differently when you live abroad.
Where can I go for support and assistance?
If you are an affected parent and live abroad, you are entitled to assistance if you moved abroad before 31 December 2021. You are also entitled to financial compensation, just like affected parents in the Netherlands. Affected parents in the Netherlands can contact their municipality of residence for assistance and support. However, this is not possible if you are an affected parent living abroad. If that is the case, you will be assisted by a team specialised in support abroad, called the ‘Ondersteuningsteam Buitenland’ (OTB). The OTB falls under Radar, which is an external agency focused on social issues.
How do I get in touch with the Ondersteuningsteam Buitenland (OTB)?
Affected parents living abroad are contacted by a personal case officer. If you are eligible for assistance from the OTB, your personal case officer will ask if the Allowance Restoration Organisation (UHT, Uitvoeringsorganisatie Herstel Toeslagen) is allowed to share your information. The UHT is not permitted to share your data without your consent. During a consultation, your personal case officer will explain which data they wish to share with the OTB. The UHT will only share the data if you agree. Subsequently, the OTB will contact you.
If you do not consent to sharing your data with the OTB, the OTB cannot and is not permitted to contact you. This means they will not be able to assist you with questions about work or healthcare, for example.
What assistance is available?
If you moved abroad before 31 December 2021, the OTB can help you with questions about:
- Family and parenting
- Finances (budget management)
- Housing
- Health
- Work and Income
If you wish to return to the Netherlands, the OTB may be able to offer assistance and support, such as reimbursement for travel and relocation expenses. However, you must have a home in the Netherlands.
Your OTB case manager will review your request for assistance and possible solutions with you, and work with you to achieve these.
Attention! Do you need immediate assistance from abroad?
Are you experiencing acute financial difficulties due to the childcare benefit issues? For example, are you unable to afford your daily groceries? In such cases, we will always look for ways to support you as quickly as possible, involving a small amount of money to provide short-term relief. In situations like these, it doesn't matter whether you currently live abroad. However, it may take longer for you to receive the money than someone living in the Netherlands.
How do I apply for a DigiD from abroad?
Sometimes mail sent abroad doesn't arrive or is significantly delayed. To prevent this from happening, we also offer the possibility of sending you important documents digitally. You will need a digital identity, called a DigiD, for this. If you have a Citizen Service Number (BSN, Burgerservicenummer), you are also able to apply for a DigiD from abroad.
What does the compensation mean for my income abroad?
The option to temporarily pause debt payments that exists in the Netherlands does not apply if you live abroad. This may mean that (financial) compensation is considered income or assets. Please keep this in mind.
I live abroad. Do you also pay out to a non-Dutch bank account?
Yes, that is possible. Please send us a letter to provide or change your account number. Please include at least the following in your letter:
- your name
- your address, postal code, place of residence and country
- your Citizen Service Number (BSN)
- your new account number
- your bank’s BIC code
If your bank does not have a BIC code, please provide us with the full foreign account number (including bank codes). - the name of the account number
This is your name as it is known to your bank. - the country of your bank
- your signature
Please also include with your letter copies of:
A bank statement or a digital bank statement showing your name and account number. Or confirmation from your bank of your application for this account number.
These documents may not be older than 2 months.
If you have questions, please contact your personal case officer with the UHT, or call the UHT’s Service Team.
What debt assistance is available for parents living abroad?
Just as we do for parents in the Netherlands, we distinguish between government debt and corporate debt. If you are an affected parent, Dutch government organisations will waive as much of your debt from before 1 January 2021 as possible. This applies even if you currently live abroad.
Do you have debts with a foreign government that arose before 1 January 2021?
We do not share your information with foreign governments. Therefore, you must report debts with a foreign government to the SBN ‘Loket Private Schulden’ (Private Debt Desk). You can do this up to six months after it has been determined that you are an affected parent. SBN will then repay these debts directly to these organisations.
Do you have debts with companies abroad that are due before 1 June 2021?
These debts can also be reported to SBN. Please note that SBN is always required to verify the debt with the creditor. With creditors abroad, this often takes longer because they are not familiar with SBN. The OTB can help you compile a debt list and submit it to SBN.
The pause button does not apply to foreign creditors. If you have debts abroad, the creditor is allowed to continue to pressure you for payment of these debts.
If I live abroad, am I also eligible for free legal assistance?
There is an arrangement for free legal assistance (legal aid) for affected parents. This is provided through the Legal Aid Board (Raad voor Rechtsbijstand). You can use this if you wish. It doesn't matter whether you live in or outside the Netherlands, or what your nationality is. However, the arrangement does provide you with a lawyer in the Netherlands, not a lawyer outside the Netherlands.
If you already had your own lawyer before 15 March 2021, you can keep them. However, to provide free legal aid, your lawyer must be added to the arrangement by the Legal Aid Board. This means that your lawyer is participating in the arrangement and will reimburse you for any money you have already paid.
How long do I have to live abroad to be eligible for support from the OTB?
You and your family are eligible for assistance from the OTB if you moved abroad before 31 December 2021, and are still living there. Exceptions may be made in rare cases. In such cases, you must submit a request.
I want to move back to the Netherlands. Is that possible?
If you want to move back to the Netherlands, the OTB can support you. Together with the OTB, you will draw up a plan for housing, work, income, schooling for your children, and other matters. In this plan, you agree on how the OTB will assist you. Assistance with transportation and moving to the Netherlands is often also available. However, you must be registered with a Dutch municipality and have a residential address.
What if I don't speak Dutch well?
Authorise someone else
You may ask someone else to contact us on your behalf. This is called “authorisation”. Perhaps you know someone who does speak Dutch well and who is willing to help you. It is important that you trust this person.
Authorisation works as follows: upon your registration, you will receive a confirmation letter with an authorisation form. Enter the name and contact information of the person you are authorising on the form and send it to us. Going forward, we will be contacting your authorised representative.
A personal case officer who speaks your language
As soon as we begin working on your case, you will be assigned a personal case officer. This officer will be your contact person at the restoration organisation. If the personal case officer notices that you don't speak Dutch well (enough), they may ask if a colleague who speaks your language is available. We cannot guarantee that we will always be able to find such a person. It depends on whether a personal case officer who speaks your language is available at that moment.
Interpreter
If necessary, we will use an interpreter to translate the conversations between you and your personal case officer. This can also be done if you speak to your personal case officer by phone. There is no charge for this service.
Our website in other languages
Some of the information on this website is also available in English, on our English website.
If you prefer to read in another language, please make use of online translation services such as Google Translate.