Left corner drawing: Problem: digitizing increases the distance.
Right corner drawing: Problem: social assistance as a maze that many people cannot get out of.
Middle: Consideration: Actively stimulate or give time and space.
At the beginning of October, the Second Round Table discussion on changes in the Participation Act (social assistance) will be organized between policymakers of the Ministry of SA&E and experts by experience on social assistance. This cooperation between EAPN NL, Sterk uit Armoede and the Ministry, gives the participants the possibility to address what they feel as omissions in the Act, what should be changed and how, and to talk about the way this Act is executed. A very meaningful exchange of ideas and experiences to support the ministry to develop changes for the Act, that we hope will be realised in 2022. The Participation Act was introduced in 2015 and is also aimed at supporting persons, especially those with a handicap, to find their way out of social security. This, however, does not really work. Plus we see how the Act is putting persons further into poverty and exclusion. Time for a change. How? When? Who? Are questions that also are raised. We are waiting on the developments to create a new government (elections ware in March), but it does not really look like there will be a coalition soon. This new government should bring forward the changes in the Act to achieve that the revised Act starts to work in, at the latest, 2023.
14 experts by experience coming from all over the country and from different organisations and different backgrounds have a say. They are supported by the coordinator of Sterk uit Armoede and the president of EAPN NL. A new development of which we hope to built on for the future. Creating Round Tables in cooperation with the ministry to discuss problems, bottlenecks and ideas for a change for the better.