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Parents now living abroad
Do you live abroad now, and you registered with us? We will then assess if you are eligible for restoration. For this purpose, it does not matter where you live now.
Affected parents living abroad are entitled to facilities just like parents in the Netherlands, but some things are slightly different if you live outside the Netherlands now.
All affected parents can make use of the financial schemes that are available. So also affected parents who live abroad. Just like affected parents in the Netherlands, affected parents living abroad can pass on their private debts to the desk for private debts. Parents living abroad can also pass on their debts to the foreign government. Parents in the Netherlands cannot do this. Their debts to the Dutch government are waived.
Broad support for parents living abroad
Like other affected parents in the Netherlands, affected parents living abroad also need comprehensive support in the restore process. Parents in the Netherlands receive this support from the municipality. This is not possible for parents who live abroad. In order to be able to provide broad support to parents abroad as well, plans are being prepared together with VNG (the Association of Netherlands Municipalities), a number of municipalities and the Ministries of Finance, the Interior and Kingdom Relations and Justice and Security.
Applying for a DigiD from abroad
Sometimes post to foreign countries does not arrive, or it is seriously delayed. We can send you important documents in digital form as well. You need a DigiD for this purpose. You can also apply for this from abroad. However, you will need your Citizen Service Number (BSN) for this.
Read more about how to apply for a DigiD from abroad (Dutch).
Need urgent help from abroad?
Do you have acute financial problems caused by the childcare benefit? For example, are you evicted from your home because you can no longer pay the rent? Then we will always assess how to help you quickly. It will be a small amount that will help you in the short term. For this purpose, it does not matter where you live now. However, the money may take longer to arrive than for someone who lives in the Netherlands.
I am a victim, now what?
If you are a victim, we will make sure that you and your family can make a new start. Together with you, we look at what is needed. You are entitled to a minimum compensation of €30,000 (Catshuis scheme), just like affected parents in the Netherlands. During the integrated assessment, we look at whether you are entitled to a higher amount.
Catshuis Childcare Benefit Scheme (€30,000)
If you have registered with us, we will briefly look at your situation. For example, we check whether you have ever applied for childcare benefit in the Netherlands. And whether you ever had to pay money back to us while you actually didn’t have to. This is called a ‘first assessment’.
If the first assessment shows that you are eligible for €30,000, we will pay it to you. For this purpose, it does not matter where you live now.
Integrated assessment
If necessary, after the first payment of €30,000, we will assess whether you are entitled to a higher amount. This is called an ‘integrated assessment’. For this purpose, too, it does not matter where you live now.
When we start handling your case, a personal case officer will be assigned to you. This is someone who discusses your situation with you and explains the restore process. If you live far away, it is probably difficult to meet your personal case officer. But you can make calls, or video calls. Parents who do live in the Netherlands also have contact with their personal case officer in this way.
Free legal aid, also for parents living abroad
There is a free legal aid scheme for affected parents. This is done via the Legal Aid Board (Dutch). If you want to make use of this scheme, you can. It does not matter whether you live abroad or what nationality you have. Under the scheme, however, you will get a Dutch lawyer. So not a lawyer abroad.
Caribbean Netherlands
Even if you live in the Caribbean Netherlands, the Legal Aid Board will, in principle, link you to a Dutch lawyer. But if you already had your own lawyer before 15 March 2021, you can keep him or her. However, your lawyer must participate in the scheme. He or she can do so through the Legal Aid Board. Please consult your lawyer about making use of this scheme.
Will my debts outside the Netherlands also be waived?
We would like to see affected parents being able to make a new start, without any debts. We distinguish between public and private debts. Public debts are debts to Toeslagen, the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration and other government agencies in the Netherlands.
Private debts are debts to non-government organisations and companies. Examples are Dutch Railways (NS), energy companies, health insurers, housing associations and mail-order companies. For parents in the Netherlands, we cancel public debts and solve private ones. They can pass on these private debts to the desk for private debts. We then pay these debts directly to the creditor. A condition is that it is a company and not a family member or friend. We do not pay off any informal debts.
Parents living abroad are also entitled to these schemes. Public debts to the Dutch government are cancelled. They can also contact the desk for private debts. Here, all affected parents can report their debts owed to government organisations in another country, in addition to their private debts. We then pay these debts directly to this organisation.
Help from your municipality
We have made agreements with Dutch municipalities about help for affected parents. For example, help with debts, or support with children or housing. No such agreements have been made with municipalities outside the Netherlands. Nor with the municipalities in the Caribbean Netherlands (Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba).
Like other affected parents, parents abroad also need comprehensive support in the restore process. To do this, plans are being prepared together with VNG (the Association of Netherlands Municipalities), a number of municipalities and the Ministries of Finance, the Interior and Kingdom Relations and Justice and Security.
I want to move back to the Netherlands
You may want to move back to the Netherlands as part of a new start. You can pass this on to the team offering support to parents living abroad. They will then look at the necessary steps together with you.
Do you want to move to the Netherlands, but has your reassessment not yet been completed? In that case, it is important that you, your partner and/or your children do not return to the Netherlands overnight. A number of things must be arranged first, together with other authorities.
There is a huge shortage of houses in the Netherlands. It is therefore important that you do not return to the Netherlands without any prospect of accommodation.
What if I don't speak Dutch well?
Authorising someone else
You may ask someone else to contact us on your behalf. This is called ‘authorising’. Perhaps you know someone who does speak Dutch well and who would like to help you. It is important that you trust this person.
This is how to authorise: When you register, you will receive a confirmation letter. It includes an authorisation form. Please enter the name and contact details of the person you are authorising on the form and send it to us. We will contact your authorised representative from then on.
A personal case officer who speaks your language
Once we start assessing your situation further, you will be assigned a personal case officer. This is your contact at the restoration organisation. If the personal case officer notices that you do not speak Dutch well, he can ask if there is a colleague who does speak your language. We cannot promise that it will always be possible to find such a person. It depends on whether there is a personal case officer available at that time who speaks your language.
An interpreter
If necessary, we will hire an interpreter to translate the conversations between you and your personal case officer. This is also possible during telephone conversations between you and your personal case officer. You do not have to pay for this.