Family That Was Never a Victim of Benefits Scandal Received 700,000 Euros in Compensation

A family that received nearly 700,000 euros in compensation through the Dutch childcare benefits scandal restitution program was never actually a victim of biased treatment by the tax authorities, a court has ruled.

The family had been ordered to repay tens of thousands of euros in childcare benefits between 2006 and 2009. The mother had repeatedly failed to submit required proof that her children were actually attending daycare. She did not contest the repayment and paid it back over eight years. Yet during the national restitution operation, she was classified as a victim under the assumption her benefits had been cut without warning.

The court now says internal records show the tax office sent repeated letters requesting proof between 2007 and 2009. Since that proof never came, the clawback was lawful.

The case raises uncomfortable questions about how many of the benefits scandal's "victims" may not have been victims at all. Earlier investigations revealed thousands of parents may have received compensation they were not entitled to.