Welfare claims rise for first time since 2005

The number of people claiming welfare benefits (bijstand) rose for the first time since 2005 over the first three months of this year, the national statistics office CBS said on Friday.


By the end of January, 263,000 people were claiming welfare, a rise of 1.7% on the final quarter of last year, the CBS said. The growth was strongest among younger men at 19%.

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