The Dutch tax office wrongly paid out child, housing and healthcare benefits totalling €117m last year, a spokesman for junior minister Eric Wiebes has confirmed to news agency ANP.

Part of that money cannot be reclaimed and part of it will be offset against new claims, the spokesman said.

According to RTL news, the tax office has paid out €336m in wrongful claims since it was given responsibility for the top up benefit system in 2006.