Personal care budget chaos ‘largely’ solved: minister

martin van rijn junior health ministerThe problems in the new system for administering the personal care budget (PGB) are largely solved, junior health minister Marten van Rijn told parliament in a written statement on Monday afternoon.

Parliament had given the minister until last Friday to bring order to the chaos in the payment system which left many care workers without income.

Van Rijn now says that between 94% and 95% of carers who correctly declare their hours are being paid within five to ten working days by the social insurance bank SVB which administers the payment system. People with a fixed income from a PGB will be paid this month.

‘I am really fed up with the payment problems and regret the inconvenience they have caused those involved,’ Van Rijn said in his statement. ‘I am glad the measures taken are having an effect.’

Van Rijn was warned before the new system was introduced that not enough time had been allowed for the administration of the budget for PGBs, which is around €2.5bn a year, to be handed over to councils and health insurance companies.

The money now goes to the health providers rather than directly into patients’ bank accounts and is paid out by the SVB.

On Wednesday, parliament will discuss the problems with the PGB.

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