Efforts by local councils to curb the special unemployment benefits paid to politicians are failing, the Telegraaf said on Wednesday.

Despite tougher rules, the 30 biggest Dutch local authorities spent more than €4m last year on payments to former council aldermen.

Apeldoorn has the biggest bill – paying out €675,000 last year, an increase of €200,000 on 2011, the Telegraaf said.

The situation in Rotterdam and Amsterdam last year is still unclear, the paper said. In 2011, Rotterdam spent €220,000 on the benefit, known as wachtgeld, or waiting money. Amsterdam spent more than €2.7m.

The new rules say people who have held political office will now receive benefits for a maximum three years, two months – the same length of time as unemployment benefit is paid. Until now they have had benefits for four years.