The Netherlands: Health and Personal Social Services For People With Disabilities State Report

The Netherlands: Health and Personal
Social Services for People
with Disabilities State Report
A Contemporary Developments in Disability

Services Paper
This paper is one of a series of background papers describing how disability

services are organised and delivered in selected jurisdictions, to help inform
how such services might be organised and delivered in Ireland.
January 2011
1
The Netherlands: Health and Personal Social Services
for People with Disabilities Country Background
Paper
January 2011
2
1. Introduction ..................................................................................................... 6
2. Population....................................................................................................... 8
2.1 Population with a disability ............................................................................ 8
3. Provision of Health and Disability Services for people with disabilities ........... 9
3.1 Overview of Service Provision System ......................................................... 9
3.2 Reform of the Health Care System ............................................................. 10
3.3 Public Long Term Care Insurance .............................................................. 11
Exceptional Medical Expenses Insurance/ Long Term Care Insurance (AWBZ)

.......................................................................................................................... 12
Social Support Insurance (WMO) ..................................................................... 16
3.4 Policy framework for independence and community living in the

Netherlands ...................................................................................................... 16
4. Housing, Accommodation and Day Services for People with Disabilities ..... 18
4.1 Residential Services ................................................................................... 18
4.2 Housing....................................................................................................... 19
Types of accommodation for people with disabilities ........................................ 19
4.3 Care Support for people with disabilities..................................................... 21
4.4 Respite and Carer Supports........................................................................ 21
4.5 Preschool for children with disabilities ........................................................ 22
4.6 Care supports in education for children with disabilities.............................. 23
Transition from education to employment ......................................................... 26
4.7 Transport to Disability Services................................................................... 27
4.8 Day & Employment Services....................................................................... 27
Day care services ............................................................................................. 27
Employment services........................................................................................ 28
3
4.9 Supports to Independent Living .................................................................. 30
5. Entitlement, Choice and User Involvement ................................................... 31
5.1 Entitlement .................................................................................................. 31
5.2 Personal Care Budgets............................................................................... 32
5.3 User Involvement ........................................................................................ 35
6. Summary of Key Learning Points.................................................................. 36
References ....................................................................................................... 37
APPENDIX A: List of Key informants ................................................................ 40
Appendix B: How health and personal services are overseen and monitored in
the Netherlands................................................................................................. 41
Appendix C: Services covered by Dutch health insurance................................ 48
4
Abbreviated Terms
AWBZ Exceptional Medical Expenses Insurance Act for long term care
SER Social and Economic Council of the Dutch government
WMO Social Support Insurance Act to promote independent living for

people with disabilities
ZZPs Care Service Packages
CIZ Centre for Needs Assessment
RIVM Dutch National Institution for Public Health and the Environment
NZa Dutch Health Care Authority
CVZ Health Care Insurance Board
Zwv 2006 Health Insurance Act
SKGZ Dutch Foundation for Complaints and Disputes
VGPN Dutch National Disability Council
5
1. Introduction
This paper is one of a series of background papers describing how disability
services are organised and delivered in selected jurisdictions. The objective of
these background papers is to help inform how such services might be
organised and delivered in Ireland. A composite report setting out key learning
from across the six jurisdictions is also available (hyperlink). This composite
report also draws on additional literature from the US and the National
Disability Authority's (NDA) broader programme of work in the area of
independent living for people with disabilities.
The jurisdictions were chosen after canvassing expert opinion on where there
were opportunities for learning due to innovations in service procurement,
design or delivery or evidence of quality. Data was collected for each
jurisdiction under a common framework, although information was not always
readily available across all elements of the framework for each jurisdiction.
The sources of information included published and web sources, as well as
interviews with three key informants, with different roles, in each jurisdiction.
The draft paper was checked for accuracy and completeness with a national
expert in each of the countries studied. Readers are advised that a key finding
from this project is that disability service systems in all of the selected
jurisdictions are in transition, and in some areas systems are undergoing rapid
development. We welcome any feedback on any of the jurisdictions
investigated that can update or enhance these background papers. The
jurisdictions investigated include those set out below and can be found at
www.nda.ie.
6
Table 1. Population of selected jurisdictions
1 2 3
Ireland England Scotland Netherlands Norway Victoria N.
4 5 6 7
Zealand
Total 4.45m 51.81m 5.19m 16.48m 4.78m 5.42m 4.32m
Population
2009
Ratio to 1 11.6 1.2 3.7 1.1 1.2 1.0
Ireland
1
Central Statistics Office. Population and Migration Estimates April 2009 http://www.cso.ie accessed 17
August 2010
2
Office for National Statistics. http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/pop0610.pdf, accessed 17 August
2010
3
General Register Office for Scotland. http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/pop0610.pdf, accessed 17
August 2010
4
Statistics Netherlands. Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek
http://statline.cbs.nl/StatWeb/publication/?DM=SLEN&PA=37296eng&D1=0-51,56-
68&D2=56&LA=EN&VW=T, accessed 17 August 2010
5
Statistics Norway. http://www.ssb.no/folkber_en/tab-2009-12-17-01-en.html, accessed 17 August 2010
6
Bureau of Statistics. Australian Demographic Statistics (cat. no 3101.0)
http://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/subscriber.nsf/0/4B3D2204865A8CCCCA25772900202261/$F
ile/13672do002_201003.xls accessed, 17 August 2010
7
Statistics New Zealand.
http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/population/estimates_and_projections/NationalPopulationEsti
mates_HOTPJun09qtr.aspx, accessed 17 August 2010
7
2. Population
2.1 Population with a disability
It is estimated that the number of people reporting as having some degree of
physical disability in Netherlands is 3.4m (22.5%) of the population 8.Out of
this population 1.7m people have moderate to severe physical disability,
including visual and auditory impairments9 10.
The number of persons with an intellectual disability is estimated at
approximately 110,00011.
8
Academic Network of Experts on Disability (ANED) (2009) The Netherlands – ANED country
profile http://www.disability-
europe.net/content/pdf/Netherlands%20ANED%20country%20profile.pdf. In their report
ANED cites estimates from the (SCP) Netherlands Institute of Social Research report (2007).
9
ibid
10
The figures and percentages cited in the SCP report are from 2007.
11
ANED (2009) The Netherlands – ANED country profile http://www.disability-
europe.net/content/pdf/Netherlands%20ANED%20country%20profile.pdf. In their report
ANED cites estimates from the EU Monitoring and Advocacy Programme, Open Society
Institute (2006) Rights of people with Intellectual Disabilities: Access to Education and
Employment. Summary Reports, The Netherlands. Open Society Institute, Hungary.
www.eumap.org http://www.osmhi.org/contentpics/202/id_nl.pdf
8
3. Provision of Health and Disability Services for people
with disabilities
3.1 Overview of Service Provision System
Table 2. Organisational Structure of Dutch Disability Services12
Organisation Function
The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport Responsible for the development and quality
(VWS) of the healthcare sector as a whole
The Netherlands Health Care Inspectorate Responsible for the quality assurance of the
(JGZ) system. The Inspectorate monitors the quality
in heath care institutions and reinforces the
quality norms and laws for the health care
sector. The Inspectorate also supervises the
operation and development of the markets for
health care providers and insurers.
The Dutch Health Care Authority (NZa) Responsible for supervising all health care
markets in the Netherlands. Produced
system of indicators that control and
measure the quality of health people are
receiving.
The Dutch Federation of University Umbrella organisations that are responsible
Medical Centres (NFU) and the Dutch for medical quality assurance.
Hospitals Associations (NVZ)
Regional health care insurers who run the Responsible for administering the Long Term
regional care offices (32 offices) Care Insurance (AWBZ) a mandatory
insurance scheme for long term care. The
management of the Long Term Care
Insurance (AWBZ) comes under the
auspices of the Ministry for Health and
Welfare.
Municipalities (441 municipalities) Responsible for administering the Social
Care Support Insurance (WMO). This type of
insurance is used to promote independent
living and to fund accessible
accommodations for houses, in - home
household help, and transportation. It comes
under the auspices of the Ministry for Internal
Affairs and Rural Relations.
MEE Nederland (22 branches) A national organisation that assists people
with disabilities in accessing support,
developing personal care plans and applying
for assistance from the Long Term Care
Insurance (AWBZ) or the Social Care
Support Insurance (WMO). This programme
is funded by the Health Care Insurance
Board (College van Zorgverzekeringen, CVZ)
from Long Term Care Insurance (AWBZ)
funds.
12
Tamsna, N. (2008) Quality in and Equality of Access to Healthcare Services, European
Commission. Schoonheim, J.(2009) ANED country report on the implementation of policies
supporting independent living for disabled people in the Netherlands.
9
In the Netherlands, the Ministry of Health Welfare and Sport funds health and
social care supports for people with disabilities. The Ministry of Social Affairs
and Employment funds income related supports, vocational and employment
supports and educational supports are funded and provided through the
Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.
3.2 Reform of the Health Care System

In 2006, major health care reforms took place after the Dutch government
introduced the Health Insurance Law (ZVW)13. The two tiered system of social
and private (voluntary) health insurance was replaced by one single
mandatory private scheme (ZVW). This scheme provides coverage for a suite
of services from medical and dental care to transportation costs for people in
wheelchairs etc. The services covered by this scheme are detailed in
Appendix C. In the new healthcare system the provision of healthcare has
become more decentralised in the hands of the private independent health
insurers14. If a person with a disability cannot afford any health care insurance
for any reason (such as unemployment etc) the Dutch government provides
insurance.
The objective behind these reforms was to create a more efficient system in
terms of costs and quality15 and to change the supply driven system into a
more demand driven system16. Market forces and client-centredness were
two of the main issues that drove this reform. Service providers, health
insurers or local commissioners and clients are perceived as being the key
players in the market. Clients are expected to take more responsibility for their
health and to be more aware of the cost of their health care insurance17.
In 2008 the Social and Economic Council (SER) of the Government proposed
a series of reforms for the provision of disability services:
• A much more clear cut and unambiguous delineation and definition of

entitlements
• An improvement in the needs assessment by, for example, introducing
protocols, benchmarking and a permanent supervision of the assessment
bodies
• A reduction in entitlements by transferring short-term rehabilitation
services to the public insurance scheme for curative health (mental health)
13
Van der Voort, H and Kerpershoek, E (2008) Introducing performance management in the
Dutch health care sector: joining up in a multi actor self regulatory system. Paper presented
at the 2008 ECPR conference in Utrecht.
14
Tamsna, N. (2008) Quality in and Equality of Access to Healthcare Services. European
Commission
15
ibid
16
at the 2008 ECPR conference in Utrecht.
17
Commission
10
services (under the Health Insurance Act, 2006) and by bringing the
provision of social care under the responsibility of the municipalities (under
the Social Support Act, 2007).
• A replacement of provider-based budgeting by client-based budgeting.
Rather than clients having to follow the money – as in the current provider
- based budgeting system – the money should follow the client. Clients
would have the option to choose a personal care budget (as in the current
system) and arrange all care by themselves, or to choose among
providers contracted by regional care offices (to be replaced by individual
health insurers in 2012)18
• The client-based budgets should be based on the categorisation of clients
in “care service packages” (abbreviated: ZZPs) by the needs assessment
bodies. A “care service package” describes the type and amount of care
needed by the client. For each “care service package” a budget will be
calculated.
In June 2008, the Dutch government endorsed the above proposal which will
be implemented over a number of years19.
One of these recommendations have already been implemented. In 2008

Curative health services which used to be covered under the Exceptional
Medical Expenses Insurance Act (AWBZ) was moved to the health care
insurance scheme (ZVW)20.
3.3 Public Long Term Care Insurance

For people with disabilities there are two types of public long-term care
insurance: the Exceptional Medical Expenses Insurance Act (AWBZ)
introduced in (2006) and the Social Support Insurance Act (WMO) in 200721.
If a person with a disability cannot afford any public long-term care insurance
the Dutch government provides insurance.
18 Ministry of Health (2008) Letter to Parliaments DLZ/KZ-2856771 June 13, 2008. Den Haag
in Schut, F.T and Van den Berg, B. (2009) Sustainability of Comprehensive Universal Long-
Term Care Insurance in the Netherlands. Accepted for publication in Social Policy and
Administration
17
ibid
18 Mot, E. (2010) The Dutch system of long-term care. CPB Netherlands Bureau for
Economic Policy Analysis. The Hague. Netherlands. http://www.ceps.eu/book/dutch-system-
long-term-care
19 Schoonheim J (2009). ANED country report on the implementation of policies supporting
independent living for disabled people in the Netherlands. ANED
.
11
Exceptional Medical Expenses Insurance/Long Term Care Insurance
(AWBZ)
The Exceptional Medical Expenses Act/Long Term Care Insurance (AWBZ) is
a mandatory scheme for long term care for people with disabilities and
people who are elderly with long term health conditions.
Long Term Care Insurance (AWBZ) is funded by income related contributions

that are collected through the income and payroll tax systems, along with the
contributions for the other national insurance schemes (e.g. for unemployment
and disability) and co-payments22.
Long Term Care Insurance (AWBZ) covers care needs for people with
disabilities in their own homes or in residential homes e.g. : 23
• Personal care: e.g. help with taking a shower, bed baths, dressing,
shaving, skin care, going to the toilet, eating and drinking
• Nursing: e.g. dressing wounds, giving injections, advising on how to cope
with illness, showing clients how to self-inject
• Supportive guidance: e.g. helping the client organise his/her day and
manage his/her life better, as well as day-care or provision of daytime
activities
• Activating or behavioural guidance: e.g. talking to the client to help them
modify his/her behaviour or learn new forms of behavior in cases where
behavioral or psychological problems exist
• Medical and clinical treatment
• Cost of accommodation
Structure of Long Term Care Insurance (AWBZ)

If a person with a disability requires long term care they go to the Centre for
Needs Assessment (CIZ) to be assessed to see if they are eligible for Long
Term Care Insurance (AWBZ). This assessment is means tested and the
person's contributions to their insurance, their care needs and their care
budgets are based on this assessment. A person with a disability who is
receiving social assistance/disability benefit will pay approximately €180 per
month contribution towards their Long Term Care Insurance (AWBZ). If a
person receives disability benefit and owns property or has additional income
coming into the house their Long Term Care Insurance (AWBZ) contribution is
higher24.
22
at the 2008 ECPR conference in Utrecht
23
Schut, F.T and Van den Berg, B. (2009) Sustainability of Comprehensive Universal Long-
Administration
24
Jose Smits, a key informant
12
If a person is assessed as being eligible for this type of insurance, they can
choose between having a personal care budget or receiving care in kind. If a
person is receiving a personal care budget , it is up them to decide who is
delivering their care, whether it is a residential home, an independent care
worker etc.
If a person chooses care in kind they have some choice as to which care
organisation delivers their care. Recipients go to their regional care office
which is run by a health insurer company which is responsible for organising
and purchasing care for people with disabilities using Long Term Care
Insurance (AWBZ). There are 32 regional care offices in the Netherlands. The
health insurers have a list of long term care providers that they recommend to
a service user.
Under the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports the Dutch Health Care
Authority (NZa) calculates the regional budgets i.e. (government concessions)
for each regional office. If the regional office runs out of money they can
discuss the situation with Dutch Health Care Authority. If a regional care office
performs poorly then permission to operate the regional care office may be
handed to another insurer. The diagram below details the structure.
Structure of Long Term Care Insurance (AWBZ)25
Potential Client
Government
Concessions CIZ Assessment
(budgets)
Health Insurers Regional Care Office

runs the regional
care office
Personal
Care in
Budget
Kind
Long Term Care Provider
25
Mot, E. (2010) The Dutch system of long-term care. CPB Netherlands Bureau for
long-term-care
13
Table 4 details the different groups of people that receive Long Term Care
Insurance (AWBZ) benefits.
Table 3. Different groups of Long Term Care Insurance (AWBZ)

beneficiaries by numbers and expenditures in 2007*
Type of long- Number Share of total Expenditure Share of total

term care user number (billion euro) expenditure
Elderly and 360,000 69% 11,4 65%
chronically ill
Intellectual 100,000 19% 4,6 26%
Disability
Physical 15,000 3% 0,5 3%
Disability
Mental Health 50,000 9% 1,1 6%
Difficulties
Total 525,000 100% 17,6 100%
* Excluding about 90,000 clients with a personal care budget (expenditure 1.3 billion euro)
26
SER (2008), p.34
Assessment of Care Needs

As detailed in the diagram below the CIZ assessment process for Long Term
Care Insurance (AWBZ) is quite a detailed one.
• Step 1: CIZ examines what supports i.e. income, disability benefits, care
supports.
• Step 2: CIZ analyses the various ways in which the care needs of a person
maybe met. The CIZ will look at services that are not covered by Long
Term Care Insurance (AWBZ) such as home delivery of shopping,
childcare etc.
• Step 3: CIZ determines the gross need for Long Term Care Insurance
(AWBZ) regarding the type of care that is necessary and the delivery of
care i.e. Does the person need 24 hour care?
• Step 4: If the CIZ determines that a person is eligible for Long Term Care
Insurance (AWBZ) the next decision is whether the person receives
residential care in an institution or care in the home. The CIZ will discuss
the options with the recipient of Long Term Care Insurance (AWBZ). If a
person wishes to receive care in their home rather than go to a residential
home than the person can try for "Full package at home". This means
that the person can get the same care in their home if it can be arranged
at the same cost. However sometimes this can be difficult and some
providers are not obliged to deliver this care27.
26
Social and Economic Council (2008) Langdurige zorg verzekerd:Over de toekomst can de
AWBZ, Pubolicatienummer 3. Den Haag in Shut, F.T and Van der Berg, B. (2009)
27
long-term-care
14
CIZ Funnel model of Assessment for Long Term Care Insurance
AWBZ28
Step 1
• CIZ examines the type of disability a person has
• The type of care that the person can access, whether it is provided by
a family member and/or a professional carer
• Existing provisions for living whether a person is receiving social
assistance (disability benefit) is working etc.
Step 2
The CIZ determines how the care needs
of the person may be solved via:
Treatment/Rehabilitation/Reactivation,
Accommodations to person's environment,
use of medical equipment etc,
Respite care, common provisions e.g.
(Home delivery of shopping)
Step 3
CIZ gross determination
of Need for AWBZ care
Type of care needed,
Frequency of care :
daily, every two days etc
AWBZ
needed
Care provided in the home Care provided within a

(outside of the institution) residential home.
28
long-term-care
15
Social Support Insurance (WMO)
The Social Support Insurance Act (WMO), was implemented in January 2007,
as a response to the following issues:
• As the Dutch population ages, there is an increasing number of elderly
people who state that they wish to live in their community and to live
independently for as long as possible
• The increasing costs of healthcare provision in residential homes means
that it would be more economical for more people to live independently in
their own homes29.
The Act emphasises the importance of independent living and transfers the
provision of support and care from the national level to the local governmental
level.
Long Term Care Insurance (AWBZ) is used for long term personal care while
the Social Support Insurance (WMO) is used for domestic home help such as
cleaning etc. The Social Support Insurance (WMO) is also used to pay for:
• accessible accommodations for houses such as: wheelchair ramps,
railings and removal of thresholds, special toilets and showers.
• purchasing mobility devices (such as scoot mobiles and chairlifts)
• paying family members (informal carers) to provide care for a service user.
People are means tested for their eligibility regarding Social Support
Insurance (WMO) by the CIZ in the same process as people being assessed
for Long Term Care Insurance (AWBZ). If a person is determined as being
eligible they must then go to their municipality who is responsible for
providing the services. Municipalities received a budget from the Ministry for
Internal Affairs and Rural Relations, for home help services30. The Social
Support Insurance (WMO) is funded by income related contributions.
3.4 Policy framework for independence and community living

in the Netherlands
There is no national strategy addressing disability issues in the Netherlands31.
However a key informant indicated that each of the 13 ministries (central
government departments) are responsible for having policies dealing with
disability issues.
29
Schoonheim, J. (2009). ANED country report on the implementation of policies supporting
independent living for disabled people in the Netherlands. ANED
30
Zichtbare Zorg is a Health Care Transparency Programme established at national level, by
the Ministry of Health, to standardise the development, monitoring and maintenance of quality
indicators across the health care sector, going forward
31
Schoonheim, J., and Smits, J. (2009) Report on the social inclusion and social protection of
people with disabilities in European countries. The Netherlands. ANED(Academic Network of
European Disability Experts) www.disability-europe.net/
16
In 2003 the Act on the Equal Treatment of People with Disabilities came into
effect. The Dutch government introduced this Act to provide people with
disabilities with the legislative means to legally enforce their equal rights.
The Dutch government also stated that this Act was an indication that:
"the idea of equal treatment (of people with disabilities) has now been
made a key factor in its policy and must therefore be implemented in
practice.32"
The Dutch government's policy approach on the equal treatment of people

with disabilities focuses on the inclusion and equal participation of people
with disabilities within society. In practice this means that people with
disabilities have access to education, employment, healthcare, public spaces,
and supports to live independently etc. The government also states that it is
society's responsibility and the personal responsibility of people with
disabilities to create a more inclusive society.
Since the 1960's the Dutch government has had a tradition of promoting
independent living for people with physical disabilities. The Social Support
Insurance (WMO) Act in 2007 exemplifies this policy in that it emphasises the
importance of independent living and transfers the provision of support and
care from the national level to the local governmental level, i.e. the
municipalities33.
In the last decade the Dutch government has introduced policy measures (see
section 4.8) to increase the number of people with disabilities participating in
employment (including mainstream, fulltime, part-time, and supported
employment). In 2008 the government introduced an inclusion programme
Everyone is Included that focused primarily on the people with disabilities
accessing the employment market. In 2008, the government committed
€165m. euros to this programme which has risen to €205m. in 201134.
32
Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (2004) Equal treatment in practice.
http://english.minvws.nl/en/themes/disabled_people/default.asp
33
independent living for disabled people in the Netherlands. ANED (Academic Network of
34
Schoonheim, J., and Smits, J. (2009) Report on the social inclusion and social protection of
people with disabilities in European countries. The Netherlands. ANED(Academic Network of
17
4. Housing, Accommodation and Day Services for
People with Disabilities
4.1 Residential Services
Table 4 below sets out the quantum of current residential and home care
provision in the Netherlands.
Table 4. Current residential and home care provision in the Netherlands
Clients Residential Care Home Care

Dementia 22% 5%
Elderly with physical 43% 63%
problems
People with intellectual 26% 14%
and physical disabilities
People with mental health 9% 18%
difficulties
Total % of people with 35% 32%
disabilities
Total 253,000 335,000
35
Source: VWS/CVZ, 2008
As detailed earlier out of 253,000 people in residential care, approximately

35% (89,000) are people with disabilities. Out of 335,000 people receiving
home care supports in their own homes that are delivered by an institution
approximately 32% (108,000) have disabilities36.
Nursing homes and other institutions that provide residential care are
independent non-profit private organisations that receive funding from the
government37.
There are many types of “care in kind” or residential/institutional services in

the Netherlands such as group homes and community homes. If a person with
a disability chooses care in kind, the institution liaises with the healthcare
insurer and supervises the provision of different services to people within the
residential service e.g. physiotherapy, speech and language therapy.
The institution receives a care provider budget for each person in the
institution. The service user can decide whether to use this money for a
personal care budget.
35
de Boer, F., Schuttel, P., and Slippens, T. (2009) Personal Budgets (PGB)s for long term
care in the Netherlands. Presentation to Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport.
36
ibid
37
Applica & CESEP & European Centre (2007) Study of the Compilation of Disability
Statistical Data from the Administrative registers of Members States.
18
Each service provides different levels of care depending on the service user's
needs. Some people require 24 hour care and others receive support only
when needed e.g. in the mornings and the evenings. A scale for residential
services is currently used to determine the level of care a person needs such
as: ‘intermittent’, ‘limited’, ‘extensive’ or ‘pervasive’ support38.
A new change in long term care and support means that financial
arrangements for institutional care are individualised. A key informant
confirmed that the personalised budget is allocated based on a standardised
needs assessment. Budgets are allocated using standardised costs for
services, and that with regard to institutional accommodation, these costs are
set on the presumption of group living arrangements, rather than individual
accommodation39.
Table 5. Costs of Care in Kind
Care in Kind Total Costs (billion euros) Average amount per client
Residential €14.9m €58,500
Home care €5.9m €22,000
40
Source: VWS/CVZ, 2008
4.2 Housing
The Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment deals with
rent policy, rental allowance, housing production and renovation, and urban
development.41. People with disabilities can apply for and receive rental
allowance and they are also given priority in terms of occupying scarce
municipal social housing42.
Types of accommodation for people with disabilities

People with disabilities live in residential homes, or with their families, or in
their own homes. There are also other housing opportunities for people with
disabilities in the Netherlands.
Clustered housing
Stichting Fokus is a non governmental body that provides housing specifically
for people with physical disabilities who can live independently and who
38
Jose Smith key informant from Academic Network of Disability Experts (ANED)
39
40
41
Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment website
http://www.vrom.nl/pagina.html?id=37413
42
19
require care on an on call basis only43. A person must require a minimum of 5
hours personal support/care a week in order to qualify for a Fokus home. The
organisation has 1300 adapted buildings in 90 locations throughout the
Netherlands for people with severe physical disabilities. The organisation has
over 2,100 employees. These homes are completely accessible and on call
assistance is available 24 hours a day. Each location has a cluster of 12 - 20
houses and a project manager that leads a team of 20 personal care
assistants44 . People who wish to use this service pay for it using their Long
Term Care Insurance (AWBZ).
"Thomas Houses" is another initiative that provides supports for people with
intellectual disabilities to live independently. The initiative is run by an
independent company called ARGO that is affiliated with the University of
Groningen. ARGO provides research and consultancy services on improving
health care services to healthcare providers, the Dutch government and
umbrella organizations in the healthcare sector. "Thomas Houses" typically
provides support for 6-8 people with intellectual disabilities to live in a
house45. Two care givers are assigned to each house to support the needs of
the residents. The caregivers live in or beside the house. In 2010 there were
80 Thomas Houses in the Netherlands and the demand is increasing46.
The total cost of living in a Thomas House depends on the individual person's
care needs. Each month a service user receives a customer account that
displays the full cost of rent, service and food etc. Service users pay for living
and care costs using their personal care budgets47.
Table 6 shows guidelines for rent and service charge for a Thomas House in
2009.
Table 6. 2009 Guidelines on individual monthly charges in a

Thomas House
Service Cost
Room rent €350 per month
Personal care services €150 per month
Meals €200 per month
Total €700 per month
Source: Thomas House website http://www.thomashuizen.nl/wat_is_een_thomashuis.aspx
43
Stichting Fokus website http://www.fokuswonen.nl/317-Missie-van-Fokus.html.
44
ibid
45
46
Thomas Houses website http://www.thomashuizen.nl/wat_is_een_thomashuis.aspx
47
ibid
20
4.3 Care Support for people with disabilities
Home care for people with disabilities is provided by a residential support
service, whether a person is living in rented accommodation, their own home
or in a residential home. As detailed in Table No. 4, there are more people
with disabilities (108,000) receiving home care in their own homes while
89,000 people with disabilities receive this care in a residential home48.
Table 4 shows that more elderly people with physical problems

approximately 210,000 receive care outside of an residential home compared
to 109,000 people who receive the services in residential homes.
There is no data available for how many people pay for home care services
using their personal care budget49.
4.4 Respite and Carer Supports

There are 200 carer support centres throughout the Netherlands. In addition
to providing carers (professional and informal) with a range of services e.g.
information, advice on financial, informal and practical support, these centres
also provide respite care using volunteers. Xzorg is the national umbrella
organisation for the carer support centres.
Respite care is provided by a mixture of professional carers and by

volunteers and/ or family members (informal carers). It can be provided in the
person’s home or by an institution. The time frame is flexible ranging from a
few hours a day to a couple of weeks. There are also care hotels and hostels
that provide respite care for temporary stays for children with disabilities.
Under the Long Term Care Insurance (AWBZ), some nursing homes and
residential services also provide respite care such as day care or short term
stays.
There are organisations that also provide holidays for carers and for people
receiving care. While the carers are on holiday, professional care workers
provided by LOT, the Dutch Red Cross and other organisations take care of
the person in need of care. Meals on wheels services and handymen services
are also provided as part of respite care services. There is a care broker
system that help carers in paid employment obtain services, allowances and
other assistance that enables them to stay in paid employment.
Carers can be compensated for loss of earnings from the cost of care
through:
48
49
Schoonheim, J (2009). ANED country report on the implementation of policies supporting
21
• Income tax measures (which have a very high threshold and are not often
used)
• Income support
• A paid career break (care leave)
• Insurers (e.g. compensation for respite care)
• Measures by local authorities
• Payment by the care recipient who has opted for a personal budget and
can use it to pay his/her carer a wage
• There are also certain types of leave in the Netherlands that enable carers
to continue working while also caring for someone
• Calamity leave: In an emergency situation a carer can take a few days
leave to get a situation under control
• Short term care leave: a maximum of 10 days. An employee can use this
leave when a family member is ill and there is no one else to care for
them.
The Act on Financing Career Breaks enables employees to reduce their

working hours to at least 50% for a period of 2 – 6 months that can be
extended up to 10 months to take care of a terminally ill family member. They
receive an allowance for the hours that they provide care. This system is not
often used50.
4.5 Preschool for children with disabilities

Preschool children between the ages of 0-4 can attend mainstream day care
centres where they can receive the specialist services they require e.g.
rehabilitation services, speech therapy etc. These day care centres are
financed by the Long Term Care Insurance (AWBZ), and are free to children
with disabilities. Pre-school children with disabilities are also eligible for social
development support in their own homes51.
Most staff in mainstream play groups/day care centres have received training
in early intervention measures. Cross sectoral early intervention teams
consisting of paediatricians, speech therapists, social workers etc work with
staff in preschool day care centers to provide the supports52.The educational
system in the Netherlands does not provide any early intervention services for
preschool children with disabilities.
50
Goedheijt, T.S., Visser-Jansen, G., and Pijl, M. (2004) Mantelzorg in the Netherlands:
Family care: characteristics, care policies, support and research. Utrecht 2004.
51
EU Monitoring and Advocacy Programme, Open Society Institute (2006) Rights of people
with Intellectual Disabilities: Access to Education and Employment. Summary Reports, The
Netherlands. Open Society Institute, Hungary. www.eumap.org
http://www.osmhi.org/contentpics/202/id_nl.pdf
52
McKenney, S (2009) Early Childhood Intervention Project Update. Country Report: The
Netherlands. European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education
22
4.6 Care supports in education for children with disabilities
Early intervention regarding a child's education needs, is not a guaranteed
right in the Netherlands. The educational system does not provide early
intervention services to pre-school age children (0-4) because children cannot
be enrolled in schools before their 4th birthday53. The only time children with
disabilities are exempt from education is if they are in institutions and they are
considered to have low developmental abilities54.
The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science is responsible for providing

educational services for children with and without disabilities in mainstream
and special primary and secondary schools, in addition to vocational and
higher education55.
Children with disabilities in the Netherlands undergo an extensive assessment

process by the CIZ (Centre for Assessment), that determines their educational
and other support options. Depending on the level of their disability, some
children may be placed in a mixed school system (mixture of mainstream and
special schools) organised by local networks.
Children with severe disabilities, particularly those with intellectual disabilities,

are placed in special schools with little or no mainstream activity. In 2005
there were waiting lists for children seeking to be placed in the special
education system because of the extensive testing process that precedes
admission into the system56. In 2003, the Dutch Education Inspectorate
stated that 126 students were waiting to be placed in primary and secondary
schools and 776 students were still waiting to be assessed and referred57.
Since August 2003 children who are assessed as requiring special education
support are eligible for pupil specific funding called the "back pack". Parents
can use this funding to cover the costs of educational supports their children
may need if they are in the mainstream educational system. The Dutch
53
54
ibid
55
Ministry of Education Culture and Sport http://english.minocw.nl/
56
57
Education Inspectorate, Waiting Lists for Special Schools, p. 13. in EU Monitoring and
Advocacy Programme, Open Society Institute (2006) Rights of people with Intellectual
Disabilities: Access to Education and Employment. Summary Reports, The Netherlands.
Open Society Institute, Hungary. www.eumap.org
23
government also introduced the “Back to School Together” programme that
promoted a more inclusive approach to education58.
Research shows that there are a number of barriers for children with
intellectual disabilities attending mainstream schools in the Netherlands:
• The back pack funding system that promotes inclusion only caters for 25%
of the population of children with intellectual disabilities59. The funding is
lower for children with intellectual disabilities than for children with other
types of disabilities.
• This back pack funding is only applicable to some schools, so that parents'
choices are limited regarding the type of schools they can send their
children to60.
• The funding provided by the state to mainstream school networks to
support children with intellectual disabilities is insufficient to meet the
children's needs. This funding enables the student to pay for extra support
that they may need from a special needs teacher to enable them to
complete their education61. Many parents with children with intellectual
disabilities therefore enrol their children into special schools62.
• Schools can determine the type of curricula used in the classroom
alongside general objectives specified by the government. The Education
Inspectorate discovered that, in many schools, materials and lessons were
not suitably adapted for children with intellectual disabilities. In-service
training for teachers is optional and many teachers only receive limited
training in how to adequately teach children with disabilities63.
• School inspectors also reported that curricula and materials in special
schools have also proved to be inadequate64.
Key informants stated that school management and teachers in mainstream
schools have raised objections to the Dutch government's plans for
developing a more inclusive educational system. Research shows that special
education teachers and some parents of children with special education
needs have also raised similar objections. These groups are not against the
58
ibid
59
Education Inspectorate, Waiting Lists for Special Schools, p. 13. in EU Monitoring and
Advocacy Programme, Open Society Institute (2006) Rights of people with Intellectual
Disabilities: Access to Education and Employment. Summary Reports, The Netherlands.
Open Society Institute, Hungary. www.eumap.org
60
ibid
61
http://www.european-agency.org/country-information/netherlands/national-
overview/complete-national-overview
62
63
ibid
64
ibid
24
principles of integration. They believe that children with special education
needs benefit from being in a segregated setting where they can receive the
specialist teaching and counselling services they need65.
A key informant for this background paper indicated that a school cannot
refuse to have a child. However there have been cases where a school has
stated that they cannot support some children with disabilities and the children
have not been accepted at the school. If a child with a disability is home from
school for more than a year the parents have to send them to a special
school. A key informant estimated that there are between 3,000 - 4,000
children and young people with disabilities in day care institutions because
mainstream and special schools cannot provide services for them66.
Research shows that children with autism, for example, are the largest group
of children who do not attend school67.
Table 7. Netherlands: Pupils with SEN in special schools by disability

type (2005/2006)68
Intellectual Mental Learning Sensory Physical Multiple Other Total

Health difficulties
- 23% 33% 5% 4% 9% 27% 67,000
Source: Netherlands, Ministry of Education, Culture and Science
Studies undertaken by the Social and Economic Council (SER) of the Dutch
government (2007)69 recommended that the Dutch government should:
• Improve the basic education for young people with disabilities, particularly
those with intellectual disabilities and experiment more with inclusive
education
• Providing assistance for young people leaving school to find jobs and
internships
SER made these recommendations after highlighting the link between special
schools and the increase in young people with some work capacity receiving
65
66
Jose Smits, a key informant
67
ibid
68
69
Schoonheim, J. and Smits J. (2009) Report on the employment of disabled people in
European countries. The Netherlands. ANED (Academic Network of European Disability
Experts) www.disability-europe.net/
25
disability benefit. These recommendations were seen as a possible solution to
activating young people towards employment70.
Transition from education to employment

Educational supports for students with intellectual disabilities in secondary
and vocational schools such as extra supports provided by special needs
teachers, have been reduced, and there are plans to modify other benefits
that would limit the already reduced funding available for such students71.
Research in the Netherlands has highlighted the link between young people
attending special schools and an increasing number of young people
receiving a disability benefit entitled the Wajong. Young people with
disabilities receive this benefit when they are 17 years of age72.
A study undertaken by the SER in 200773 estimated that there would be an

increase in Wajong recipients from 156,000 in 2006, to possibly 360,000 in
2040. This study also found that of the 156,000 recipients, 26% were in some
form of employment, yet, 50% of the recipients were considered by the SER
to have some work capacity. The SER recommended that the Dutch
government should activate these recipients toward employment by:
• Improving the basic education for young people with disabilities and
experiment more with inclusive education
• Providing assistance for young people leaving school to find jobs and
internships
• Increasing supported employment opportunities for young people.
In their report on employment of people with disabilities (2009) the Academic

Network of Disability Experts (ANED) cites two plans the Dutch government
issued in response to the SER report.
The core objectives of these plans, which are still in the process of being
implemented, are:
• Young people with disabilities are assessed for the Wajong benefit based
on their capacity to work.
70
ibid
71
72
73
SER (2007) Participations with Limitations. http://www.ser.nl in Schoonheim, J. and Smits
J. (2009) Report on the employment of disabled people in European countries. The
Netherlands. ANED (Academic Network of European Disability Experts) www.disability-
europe.net/
26
• People with a higher work capacity receive a lower benefit but as an
incentive for them to work, are allowed to keep part of their benefit in
addition to their earnings. People who are unable to work receive the
highest level of benefit, which is 75% of the minimum wage.
• All Wajong recipients are now being offered an individual participation
plan, that will provide them with assistance to find a job or provide them
with training which leads to an actual job offer. If recipients refuse to
comply with the participation plan their benefits can be terminated74.
• Develop a disability awareness raising campaign for employers and
employees to create inclusive workplaces75
4.7 Transport to Disability Services

The Equal Treatment Act for people with disabilities did not extend to include
the area of transportation until 2010. However, people with disabilities do
receive discounts for using public transport. There are special tariffs for
people with disabilities in the Netherlands. Regional and local authorities pay
the difference.
In the Netherlands, "special" transport such as taxis, etc are allocated for
use by people with disabilities .There is also a regional transport system for
people with disabilities operated by the municipalities called the Valys-system.
It is paid for by the Dutch government.
There are also six national programmes facilitating individual door-to-door-

transport for people with disabilities. These minibuses and taxis transport
people with disabilities to school, social welfare appointments and social/
recreational activities. These programmes are paid for by the Dutch
government76.
4.8 Day & Employment Services

Day care services
While there is no legislation or regulations setting out an agreed definition of
the day supports for people with disabilities in the Netherlands, the needs
assessment process set out the range of supports that can be provided such
as personal care, medical care, or attendance during activities. Providers of
day supports are required to provide the care specified in each needs
assessment.
The Ministry for Health, Welfare and Sport funds day care and activity centres
for people with disabilities of all ages. The majority of people who use day
74
Schoonheim, J. and Smits, J. (2009) Report on the employment of disabled people in
75
ibid
76
PT Access (2008) State of the Accessibility of Public Transport Systems for People with
Disabilities in The Netherlands
27
care and activity centres are older people with intellectual disabilities and
children with intellectual disabilities.
Employment services
The Dutch government's policy on employing people with disabilities has
focused on determining adults' capacity to work and reducing the number of
adults receiving disability benefits77.
In 2006 the Dutch government implemented a policy change regarding
employment and employment disability benefits that distinguished between:
• People who were entitled to disability benefits because they were
permanently disabled. Their benefits were structurally increased.
• People who are considered to be capable of finding some kind of work. To
assist this group to get employment, financial risks for employers were
reduced and supports for individual job seekers were improved. The result
was a sharp decrease in employees filing for disability benefits from
60,000 to 21,000 in 2006. However it's not clear whether the decrease in
applications is due to an increase in employment rates for people with
disabilities 78.
The Dutch government's policy regarding disability benefits sought to provide

financial incentives for recipients to pursue work by:
• Tightening the eligibility requirements for recipients to receive higher
benefits
• Providing employers with subsidies to hire people with disabilities
• Providing educational and integration support to people with disabilities
who have a work capacity. The UVW (the government's co-ordinating
body) is responsible for mapping employee's competencies and matching
employees with reintegration companies to provide reintegration training,
individual training support and job coaching79.
Sheltered Employment
Sheltered employment is the most common form of employment in the
Netherlands for people with disabilities. In the Netherlands sheltered
employment is financed by the government and managed by the
municipalities.80
77
78
ibid
79
ibid
80
OECD (2008) Sickness, Disability and Work: Denmark, Finland, Ireland and the
Netherlands. Breaking the Barriers. Vol. 3
28
In 2006, over 99,000 people were in sheltered employment81. Some people
were employed by private companies under the supervision of sheltered
employment providers. In 2006 there were 16,000 people on waiting lists for
sheltered employment compared to 6,000 in 200282.
A majority of people with intellectual disabilities in employment are employed

in sheltered employment. A 2005 report stated that out of 73,000 people with
intellectual disabilities:
• 41% were employed in sheltered employment
• 4% were employed in supported employment in the open market
• 21% were at adult day care facilities doing unpaid employment duties83.
Impact of activation policies

According to Schoonheim and Smits (2009), the activation policies that the
Dutch government have implemented have not yet proven effective regarding
improving the employment prospects of people with disabilities. They report
that employers' attitudes towards hiring people with disabilities has not
changed. They also state that barriers that prevent people with disabilities
entering the labour market such as bureaucracy and effective support for
people with intellectual disabilities have not been dealt with. Schoonheim and
Smits (2009) recommend that in order to improve employment opportunities
for people with disabilities there is a need to:
• Develop an accurate and complete statistical database on the employment
position of people with disabilities, disaggregated based on the type and
severity of disability, the support needed, the support utilised, gender, age,
and ethnicity. Statistics to be updated annually
• Focus on employment opportunities for people with disabilities in
institutions and day care centres
• Impose a 5% hiring quota for employers and monitor employer progress
on this employment quota. While there is currently no quota system in the
Netherlands, the Government has urged employers to adopt a voluntary
2% hiring target for people with disabilities, but it is unclear if this system is
monitored in any way.84
81
They work for private companies in the open labour market but they are supervised by their
sheltered workplace and their contract would be with sheltered workplace
82
ibid
83
Netherlands. Open Society Institute, Hungary. www.eumap.org.
84
ibid
29
4.9 Supports to Independent Living
Social Supports Insurance, (WMO)
The Social Supports Insurance Act (WMO) introduced in 2007, emphasises
the importance of independent living for people with disabilities. Under this
Act, people with disabilities can now use their personal care budget to pay
family/ friends who care for them. This makes it easier for people with
physical, intellectual and other disabilities to live at home and in their
communities for as long as possible. The Ministry for Health, Welfare and
Sport estimates that 1.6m people are caregivers to a family member85.
Under the Social Supports Insurance (WMO) Act, each of the 441
municipalities in the Netherlands has a central information point that will
provide people with disabilities and their families with assistance in applying
for personal care, adjustments to their home, mobility devices, housekeeping
help etc86.
Other legislation
Prior to the Social Supports Insurance (WMO) Act, the Dutch government
introduced two pieces of legislation that respectively: support the right of
people with mental health difficulties and intellectual disabilities to live at
home; and promote the provision of accessible public buildings and houses.
The national building code (Bouwbesluit) introduced in 2003 by the Ministry of

Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment (VROM) sets out accessibility
guidelines for new buildings e.g. all buildings must be wheelchair accessible.
However older buildings do not have to be accessible. The Equal Treatment
Act for Disability and Chronic Illness was expanded and made effective in
March 15, 2009 to prevent discrimination against people with disabilities in the
sale and rental of houses. The objective of the Act is to assist people with
disabilities to live in the community in housing of their choice87. The Equal
Treatment Act also ensures that people with disabilities cannot be forced to
live in an institution.
Personal Care Budget

Key informants for this background paper and research evidence suggests
that the introduction of the personal care budget (see s.5.2) has been an
important support for independent living for people with disabilities. It
85
Schoonheim J (2009). ANED country report on the implementation of policies supporting
86
care in the Netherlands. Presentation to Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport
87
30
provides them with the means to decide on and to purchase the types of care
services they wish to have88.
5. Entitlement, Choice and User Involvement

5.1 Entitlement
Health insurance and public long-term care insurance are mandatory in the
Netherlands for people with and without disabilities. Therefore everyone is
entitled to health and social services. Appendix B details the services for
people with disabilities covered by health insurance.
For people with disabilities there are two types of public long-term care
insurance the Long Term Care Insurance (AWBZ) or the Social Supports
Insurance (WMO) that promotes independent living. A more detailed summary
of these two types of insurance is provided in section 2.4. In order to
determine what type of health insurance and care services a person with a
disability requires, they must first be assessed by Centre for Needs
Assessment (CIZ)89. This national organisation is responsible for conducting
needs assessment, which are health based i.e. based on a person’s health
rather than mean-tested.
The type of care a person receives and their choice in service providers is
dependent on their disability.
While people with disabilities may use the same type of public long-term care
insurance as in Long Term Care Insurance (AWBZ) or Social Supports
Insurance (WMO), there are different service providers for people depending
on their disability.
When a child is diagnosed with a disability between 0-4 years of age the
parents and families contact their local MEE Nederland90 office which will
inform them of the different service options that are available to them in terms
of adaptations, transport etc. and answer other questions they may have91.
The type of care a child with a disability requires depends on their disability.
Children are assessed based on IQ tests and/or clinical observation. This
assessment is carried out by an organisation that is independent from the
88
ibid
89
In 2008 the CIZ has one main office, 6 district offices and 30 local offices in Schut, F.T and
Van den Berg, B. (2009) Sustainability of Comprehensive Universal Long - Term Care
Insurance in the Netherlands. Accepted for publication in Social Policy and Administration
90
As detailed in Table 2 MEE Nederland is a national programme assists people with
disabilities in accessing support, developing personal care plans and applying for assistance
from AWBZ or the WMO. This programme is funded by the Health Care Insurance Board
(College van Zorgverzekeringen, CVZ) from AWBZ funds
91
31
health insurance and health care providers. This assessment also provides
parents and/or legal guardians with options as to how they would like the care
to be funded in the form of a personal care budget or from a healthcare
insurance provider92.
If the parents of a child with a disability decide to place their child in residential
care then institutions are obliged to provide the necessary care93.
5.2 Personal Care Budgets

The personal care budget is a form of direct payment for people with
disabilities in the Netherlands. People who have Long Term Care Insurance
(AWBZ) or Social Supports Insurance (WMO) can choose to use a personal
care budget94.
When a person with a disability opts for a personal care budget they are
receiving 75% of what their care in kind would cost. It is paid directly into their
bank account by the CIZ’s care liaison office. The person can purchase the
type of care they wish. The CIZ's care liaison office checks in with the
personal care budget users to ensure that they can account for their
expenditure95.
Under the Social Supports Insurance (WMO) informal care provided by family
and friends is now recognised. A person is defined as a caregiver if they care
for someone for longer than 3 months. A person with a disability can use their
personal care budget to pay for informal care by a family member. In 2009,
the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Sports estimated that 1.6m people looked
after a family member or a friend with a disability. Local governments are
encouraged by the Ministry of Health to provide training for non-professional
care givers and to have back-up procedures in place that will enable carers to
take adequate time off96.
92
ibid
93
94
Schoonheim J (2009). ANED country report on the implementation of policies supporting
95
96
32
Table 8. Key data on personal care budgets, 200597
Number of Budget holders 77,883

Age distribution 18-55 32.5%
56-65 12.6%
66-75 14.3%
76-80 8.7%
Type of Health problem People with heart conditions 67%
Elderly people with 1%
Alzheimer's and or dementia
Mental difficulties 14%
Physical disabilities 14%
Intellectual disability 11%
Sensory disability 1%
Net budget amount in <2,500 27.7%
euro*
2,500-5,000 24.9%
5,000 - 25,000 30.5%
>25,000 16.9%
*Net of co-payments by budget holder. The average gross personal care budget was about
14,000 euro, of which about 1,000 euro was paid by the budget-holder out-of-pocket.
7% of long-term expenditure covered by Long Term Care Insurance (AWBZ)

is used for personal care budgets. More than 10% of long-term care users opt
for the personal care budget.
Every year the Dutch government puts a ceiling on the total amount that can
be spent on personal care budgets. Since 2005 the demand has exceeded
the agreed budget. In 2007, the government implemented a total annual
budget increase of 35% (Ministry of Health 2007)98. In 2008, it was estimated
that total cost of personal care budgets was €1.3bn, an average of €14,500
per service user99.
Personal care budgets are used for:

• Assistance with everyday activities such as getting up, having a shower
• Paying informal care by relatives, neighbours and friends, (which was
previously often provided for free)
• Purchasing brokerage services as an increasing number of brokers charge
a fee to assist people with disabilities in applying for a personal care
budget
97
Ministry of Health (2006) Schut, F.T and Van den Berg, B. (2009) Sustainability of
Comprehensive Universal Long- Term Care Insurance in the Netherlands. Accepted for
publication in Social Policy and Administration
98
Ministry of Health (2007) Letter to parliament, DLZ/ZI-U-2811809, November 9, 2007. Den
Haag in Schut, F.T and Van den Berg, B. (2009) Sustainability of Comprehensive Universal
Long- Term Care Insurance in the Netherlands. Accepted for publication in Social Policy and
Administration
99
33
• To purchase supports from home health care agencies100
• Supports for someone with a disability trying to reintegrate into the
workplace after being absent from work due to their disability101
• Weekend and respite care102
Per Saldo is an umbrella organisation established and run by people with

disabilities using personal care budgets. It is a not for profit voluntary
organisation that provides information, publications and advice on everything
to do with personal budgets103.
It also provides support and representation (including legal representation

where necessary) for its members through its service department. It
represents people with disabilities if they have issues with needs assessment,
the allocation of the budget or making arrangements with help providers and
organisations.
Per Saldo is also an advocacy organisation that is campaigning on a number

of issues such as:
• Better PGB scheme for care, help and support under the Exceptional
Medical Expenses Act (AWBZ), with more straightforward implementation,
realistic tariffs and simpler accounting.
• The widespread introduction of personal financing in a variety of areas,
e.g. for education, for the provision of aids and facilities, and for
reintegration into the labour market.
• An integrated participation budget putting the control of the whole of
people's lives back into their own hands104.
Research and key informants have stated that the personal care budget
provides people with disabilities with a choice and the potential to be creative
in their service provision because they can decide on the types of service they
wish to purchase themselves. The number of people with disabilities,
choosing to use personal care budgets is slowly increasing105.
100
Schut, F.T and Van den Berg, B. (2009) Sustainability of Comprehensive Universal Long-
Administration
101
care in the Netherlands. Presentation to Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport
102
ibid
103
ibid
104
Per Saldo website. http://www.pgb.nl/persaldo/english/?waxtrapp=tdtvrMsHcwOhcPjBCAU
105
34
5.3 User Involvement
A key informant for this background paper indicated that people with
disabilities were involved in Social Supports Insurance (WMO) advisory
boards at local level. Local authorities also have consultative platforms for
people with disabilities.
People with disabilities are also represented on the several advisory bodies
that assist the government. These advisory bodies consist of councils of
people with specialist knowledge who advise the minister on request or on
pending issues. Examples of advisory boards in the Dutch government are:
Health Council, the Election Council and the Transport Safety Board.
Occasionally the government may decide to appoint a temporary committee to
advise it on a particular matter.
The following organisations advocate for the inclusion of people with

disabilities into mainstream Dutch society:
• The Dutch National Disability Council (VGPN) is a non-profit

organisation made up of disability organistaions and individuals with
disabilities that represent the interests of people with physical and
intellectual disabilities, mental health difficulties and chronic diseases.
It is primarily an advovacy organisation on behalf of the interests of the
disability community in the Netherlands106. It is affiliated with the
European Disability Fourm
• The Dutch Council on Disability and Chronic Illnesses (CG-Raad)

promotes the rights of people with physical disabilities.
• Kanplus promotes the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities
and mental heath issues into society107.
The Dutch Coalition on Disability and Development (DCDD) does advise the
Dutch government on promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities in
societies worldwide through co-operation and development. This group is
made up of individual members and international disability organisations.108
106
Dutch Coalition on Disability and Development website
http://www.dcdd.nl/default.asp?3079
107
108
35
6. Summary of Key Learning Points
Legislative changes in the Netherlands have been key in underpinning system
reform in the health sector with the aim of promoting choice and person
centred services.
Personal Care Budget

The Personal Care Budget as detailed in section 5.2 is an example of an
existing person centred service that provides people with disabilities with the
right to chose the type of care they wished to receive and who would care for
them109.
Quality and transparency in healthcare provision

Recent legislation regarding the NZA (the national authority that controls the
market) has provided the Netherlands with a system of indicators that control
and measure quality of health care. The system also aims to improve the
transparency of the market and pricing system for health care provision in the
Netherlands110.
Strengthening Advocacy and Services User Voices

According to Schoonheim, there is a need to improve the central funding of
advocacy supports in the Netherlands to enhance the engagement of non-
statutory and representative bodies in the policy making process111.
Employment
In 2006, the Dutch government's policy regarding disability benefits re-
oriented its focus to highlight people’s capacity rather than their incapacity to
work. The government sought to provide financial incentives for recipients to
pursue work by:
• Providing employers with subsidies to hire people with disabilities

• Providing educational and integration support to people with disabilities
who have a work capacity.
• Tightening the eligibility requirements for recipients at the higher level of
benefits
Despite these incentives there are still barriers to people with disabilities
entering the open labour market112.
109
110
A key informant from Zichtbare Zorg
111
112
36
References
ANED (2009) The Netherlands country profile. http://www.disability-
europe.net/content/pdf/Netherlands%20ANED%20country%20profile.pdf
Applica & CESEP & European Centre (2007) Study of the Compilation of
Disability Statistical Data from the Administrative registers of Members States.
de Boer, F., Schuttel, P., and Slippers, T. (2009) Personal Budgets (PGB)s for
long term care in the Netherlands. Presentation to Ministry of Health, Welfare
and Sport
Declerq, A., Demaerschalk, M., and De Keyser, H. (2007)

Deinstitutionalisation and community living - outcomes and costs: report of a
European study country report the Netherlands in Beadle-Brown J and Kozma
A (2007) Deinstitutionalisation and community living – outcomes and costs:
report of a European Study. Volume 3: Country Reports. Canterbury: Tizard
Centre, University of Kent.
De Klerk, M., (2002) 7th report on people with an impairment. www.scp.nl in

Public Transport Systems Access for People with Disabilities in Europe (2008)
State of the Accessibility of Public Transport Systems for People with
Disabilities in the Netherlands (NL)

EC Europa (2008) Mental Health Briefing Sheets, Fact and Activities in

Member States:
http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_determinants/life_style/mental/docs/Netherlands
.pdf
EU Monitoring and Advocacy Programme, Open Society Institute (2006)

Rights of people with Intellectual Disabilities: Access to Education and
Employment. Summary Reports, The Netherlands. Open Society Institute,
Hungary. www.eumap.org http://www.osmhi.org/contentpics/202/id_nl.pdf
Goedheijt, T.S., Visser-Jansen, G., and Pijl, M. (2004) Mantelzorg in the

Netherlands: Family care: characteristics, care policies, support and research.
Utrecht 2004.
McKenney, S. (2009) Early Childhood Intervention Project Update. Country

Report: The Netherlands. European Agency for Development in Special
Needs Education
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37
Ministry of Health (2007) Letter to Parliament, DLZ/ZI-U-2811809, November
9, 2007. Den Haag in Schut, F.T and Van den Berg, B. (2009) Sustainability
of Comprehensive Universal Long - Term Care Insurance in the Netherlands.
Accepted for publication in Social Policy and Administration
Ministry of Health (2008) Letter to Parliaments DLZ/KZ-2856771 June 13,

2008. Den Haag in Schut, F.T and Van den Berg, B. (2009) Sustainability of
Comprehensive Universal Long - Term Care Insurance in the Netherlands.
Accepted for publication in Social Policy and Administration
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Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment website

http://www.vrom.nl/pagina.html?id=37413
Mot, E. (2010) The Dutch system of long-term care. CPB Netherlands Bureau
for Economic Policy Analysis. The Hague. Netherlands.
http://www.ceps.eu/book/dutch-system-long-term-care
Neeleman, J., Sytema, S., Wadsworth, M.(2003) Propensity to psychiatric and

somatic ill health: evidence from a birth cohort. Psychological Medicine, 32,
793-803.
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the Netherlands. Breaking the Barriers. Vol. 3
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Per Saldo website.

http://www.pgb.nl/persaldo/english/?waxtrapp=tdtvrMsHcwOhcPjBCAU
Public Transport Systems Access for People with Disabilities in Europe (2008)
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Schoonheim, J. and Smits, J. (2009) Report on the employment of disabled

people in European countries. The Netherlands. ANED (Academic Network of
Schoonheim, J (2009). ANED country report on the implementation of policies

supporting independent living for disabled people in the Netherlands. ANED
(Academic Network of European Disability Experts) www.disability-
europe.net/
38
Schoonheim, J., and Smits, J. (2009) Report on the social inclusion and social
protection of people with disabilities in European countries. The Netherlands.
ANED (Academic Network of European Disability Experts) www.disability-
europe.net/
Schut, F.T and Van den Berg, B. (2009) Sustainability of Comprehensive

Universal Long - Term Care Insurance in the Netherlands. Accepted for
publication in Social Policy and Administration
Social and Economic Council (2008), Langdurige zorg verzekerd:Over de

toekomst can de AWBZ, Pubolicatienummer 3. Den Haag in Shut, F.T and
Van der Berg, B. (2009) Sustainability of Comprehensive Universal Long -
Term Care Insurance in the Netherlands. Accepted for publication in Social

Policy and Administration
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with Disabilities in Europe (2008) www.cbs.nl

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Fokus.html.
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European Commission
Thomas Houses website

http://www.thomashuizen.nl/wat_is_een_thomashuis.aspx
Van der Voort, H., and Kerpershoek, E. (2008) Introducing performance

management in the Dutch health care sector: joining up in a multi actor self
regulatory system. Paper presented at the 2008 ECPR conference in Utrecht.
39
APPENDIX A: List of Key informants
Jacqueline Schoonheim is a researcher of disability and education law, and

a lecturer of private law at Maastricht University
Ms. Jose Smits member of ANED (Academic Network of European Disability

Experts)
Senior Policy & Public Affairs Advisor from the Dutch Ministry of Health,
Welfare and Sport who wishes to remain anonymous
A key informant from Zichtbare Zorg who wishes to remain anonymous. This
organisation is a Health Care Transparency Programme established at
national level, by the Ministry of Health, to standardise the development,
monitoring and maintenance of quality indicators across the health care
sector, going forward
40
Appendix B: How health and personal services are
overseen and monitored in the Netherlands
The Dutch health care sector is undergoing significant ongoing reform at
present. Services are now, in the main, arranged and provided as 'standard
service basket' entitlements based on mandatory private insurance (and,
where applicable, a system of assessed need) under the 2006 Health
Insurance Act (Zorgverzekeringswet, Zvw). Government retains ultimate
responsibility for the:
• accessibility
• affordability
• durability (sustainability)
• solidarity (cohesion)
• choice
• quality
• efficiency and
• quality of health care.
(Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport).
The new care system in the Netherlands - including the Zvw is administered
by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, in collaboration with a range of
'regulatory' bodies. These include, for example:
• The Dutch Health Care Authority (NZa): the supervisory body for all
healthcare markets in the Netherlands. NZa oversees the implementation
of insurance legislation in healthcare and produces an annual audit report
on the state of the acute health care market
• The Health Care Insurance Board (CVZ) which:
- co-ordinates the implementation and funding of the Zvw and the long term
care, Exceptional Medical Expenses Act (AWBZ) and
- has a monitoring role in relation to:
o adherence to the regulations of international conventions and
o the feasibility and efficiency of Government plans.
• The Dutch foundation for complaints and disputes (SKGZ) which
incorporates an Ombudsman's role and handles patient complaints and
disputes in relation to insurers
41
• The Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM)
which
- produces an annual 'Dutch Health Performance Report' and other reports
such as waiting times for services
- operates a consumer health information portal that provides a range of
information including information on selecting a health insurer and health
and personal services providers
- has a particular role in relation to people at risk of social exclusion.
In addition, local Government continues to have some responsibility for
managing a number of elements of the national social benefits package on
behalf of citizens on social income support. Local authorities negotiate
collective contracts and commission community development services in
respect of this budget (the 2006 Social Supports Act refers).
The Dutch Government has put a number of quality and performance

safeguards in place at national level, including, for example:
• prescribing the content of standard package of essential health and
personal care referred to as 'standard service baskets', consisting of
preventative, standard and long term care provisions
• taking measures to ensure access, quality and solidarity
• developing a comprehensive new instrument in consultation with key
stakeholders to monitor the performance of the overall healthcare system
on a regular basis
• issuing regular Health Care Performance Reports (Zorgbalans) from
2006113.
Other Government initiatives in the area of monitoring include commissioned
reports from:
• CIZ - to assess user satisfaction with Long Term Care Insurance (AWBZ)
and
• NIVEL - to investigate quality of life in nursing and residential homes.
Licensing & Regulatory Framework

• A system of voluntary hospital registration, performance measurement and
incentivisation has been established by IGZ.
113
These reports complement Public Health Forecasting (Volksgezondheid
Toekomstverkenningen, VTV) Reports, published once every four years by the National Institute for
Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) which aim to evaluate policy and to help set new
priorities where necessary.
42
• Otherwise a system of professional and management-based regulation
applies.114
"Government is devoting less and less attention to the requirements for
providing health care (e.g. norms and conditions for recognition and
regulations for training), and more to the quality of the health care process.
There are two important new pieces of legislation in this respect: the
Individual Health Care Professions Act and the Care Institutions (Quality)
Act." (IGZ Fact Sheet, 2002).
The Care Institutions (Quality) Act establishes a number of key

requirements that all providers of care must fulfil.
− Service providers must provide 'responsible care' i.e. care that is
characterised as being of a good level, effective, suitable, patient
oriented, and geared towards the real needs of service users
− Service providers must make clear what they are doing to achieve and
maintain 'responsible care'
− Service providers must - to the greatest extent possible - systematically

protect and, improve the quality of care they provide ... this includes
taking measures such as establishing and monitoring a system of
quality control
− Service providers must publish an annual report indicating the quality

control policies they have adopted and report on the quality of care
they deliver.
• Under the Health Act, all serious incidents, adverse effects and crises
must be reported to IGZ.
• The Individual Health Care Professions Act (Wet BIG) regulates the
provision of care by professional practitioners, focusing on the quality of
professional practice and patient protection.
• People with mental health difficulties and mental health service users are
supported through, for example:
- the Law on Contracts for Medical Treatment (Wet op de Geneeskundige
Behandelingsovereenkomst) which set out health professionals’
responsibilities to provide good quality care. It also safeguards patient
rights.
- the General Complaints in Healthcare Act and Psychiatric Hospitals
(Compulsory Admissions) Act and the Client’s Right of Complaint (Care
Sector) Act (Wet klachtrecht cliënten zorgsector) which, in the case of the
former, require that complaints mechanisms are established on a statutory
114
"Management-based directs regulated organizations to engage in a planning process that
aims toward the achievement of public goals, offering firms flexibility in how they achieve
public goals." Cary Coglianese and David Lazer"2002.
43
basis in relation to each institution and, in the case of the latter, provide for
appeals through official complaints committees.
- the Participation (Clients of Care Institutions) Act (Wet
medezeggenschap cliënten zorginstellingen) - which requires that the
voice of clients is heard within residential and in-patient settings through
mandatory client councils to be set up with legal competence to advise
service providers on matters related to health service quality.
Inspection of Services
IGZ is an independent, statutory body that has an important role in relation to
ensuring that health and personal social care providers comply with laws and
regulations. Its main focus is safety and effective client-centred care.
IGZ operates a mandatory inspection system based on its own risk

assessment of self-report monitoring data submitted by service providers in
respect of agreed quality indicators. It has significant powers of enforcement,
including those of direction, sanction and initiation of further investigation
under criminal law where it finds reasonable grounds for suspecting breaches
of the law.
The inspectorate reports - both on request and at its own initiative - to the
Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport. It is legally obliged to follow any orders
the Minister decides to issue with a view to regulating inspection policy.
IGZ is subdivided into three sub-inspectorates:
• preventive and curative health care

• mental health care (covering paediatric and general psychiatric hospitals,
centres for drug and alcohol addiction and services for people with
intellectual disabilities and nursing homes for the elderly)
• pharmacy and medical technology (medical devices and assistive
technology).
It also has a special role in the supervision of involuntary placement and
treatment in psychiatric institutions and inspects about 10% formally each
year - including examining medical records and treatment team and patient
and/or representative interviews.
IGZ carries out general supervision through regular visits to designated

centres to ensure that the quality of care is up to prescribed standards115.
115
e.g. the system of performance measurement for hospital quality inspection that has been developed
by the Inspectorate
44
The inspectorate is currently developing a new, three-phase, risk-driven
approach to inspection as follows:
1. identifying institutions with higher risks - initial assessments are made by

the Inspectorate on the basis of information collected via an electronic
inspection questionnaire completed by all institution
2. conducting on-site inspection of the institutions
3. conducting assessments of quality of care against required standards.
Investigations into reports of serious problems, adverse events or other crises
in the provision of care and other services will continue in parallel with this
approach - and reports on these investigations and key quality assurance and
risk reduction themes will continue to issue as appropriate.
The Inspectorate will also continue to publish an annual report on

developments in healthcare and its work.
It is worth noting two significant initiatives in which IGZ has recently become
involved:
1. "Basisset" which focuses on:
• transparency mainly using process indicators for accreditation
• selective overseeing using risk analysis
• inviting hospitals to cooperate with the enforcement tasks of the

Inspectorate
• quality assurance of indicators by involvement of scientific communities.
2. The introduction of Transparency Lists to enable clients and insurance

companies to choose between health care services based on bottom up ZN
(Insurance Sector) Transparency Sets - Purchase Guides indicators that are
quality assured through the involvement of all stakeholders in their
development.
5) Other developments of note
Further Government initiatives:

In 2003, the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports launched a Sneller
Beter (Better Quicker) programme to increase efficiency, improve quality
and encourage innovation and embed transparency as a quality
improvement tool across hospitals, clinical specialists and general
practitioners.
A similar programme, Zorg voor Beter (Making it Better), was established
for the long-term care sector to improve the client centredness and more
45
general quality of health and personal services provided within the scope
of the Long Term Care Insurance (AWBZ). This E36.6 million programme
is co-ordinated by the National Health and Healthcare Research Fund and
implemented by Vilans and TNO Quality of Life.
Other national programmes are being rolled out on specific themes
including dementia services, fall prevention and safe medication.
Notably, national innovation and quality improvement schemes
increasingly include initiatives that aim to improve mental health services.
The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport has also established a
framework to support local government in respect of the 2006 Social
Support Act (WMO) developing policies based on the composition and
demands of citizens within their catchment areas.
In June 2008 the Dutch Government endorsed a number of further reforms
in the area of health and personal social services relevant to people with
disabilities that had been recommended by the Social and Economic
Council. These include:
o decoupling of service and support financing from accommodation
subsidisation
o increased real control over personal budgets for people with disabilities
with services offering clearly defined care service packages (ZZPs)
setting out details of service provision for each service user
o opportunities for further standards development in the area of needs
assessment and definition of entitlements.
Other opportunities for standards development have been identified for
early attention in relation to the quality of job coaches.
Other quality initiatives include the following:

The Association of Dutch healthcare insurers has developed a common
code of conduct. This code of conduct presents guidelines for proper
insurance behaviour and deals with the aspects of quality and
accessibility. The code of conduct can be viewed at:
http://www.zn.nl/international/issues/code_conduct_quality/The_Code_of_
Conduct_and_Quality.asp
A Health Care Transparency Programme (Zichtbare Zorg) has been

established at national level, by the Ministry of Health, to standardise the
development, monitoring and maintenance of quality indicators across the
health care sector, going forward, however. The Programme Bureau
currently works on behalf of fifteen steering groups working across the
health and personal health care sector. A formal system of service
provider/data registration applies.
The Bureau published a consultation document 'Framework for Quality

Indicators' in early 2010. It received responses from a variety of
46
stakeholders including service providers, consumer organisations and
umbrella groups and one health care insurer.
47
Appendix C: Services covered by Dutch health
insurance
• Medical care and services by medical and nursing professionals
• GP services
• In-patient hospital costs
• Dental care up to the age of 18 (for others specialist dental care only)
• Medical – assistance devices including dentures, glasses for people with a
serious visual impairment; walking aids/wheelchairs/Zimmer frames
• Pharmaceuticals: Prescription drugs only
• Obstetric and maternity (pre/postnatal services up to age of 6 months)
care
• Paramedical care
• Physiotherapy
• Rehabilitative care: Fully covered for first 365 days
• Emergency ambulance
• Chronic intermittent ventilation (use of equipment in own home requires
authorisation)
• First three sets of IVF treatment
• Audiological advice for people with hearing impairments
• Genetic testing including counselling for people at risk
• Transportation for people confined to wheelchairs, people who need out -
patient haemodialysis; and people who are visually impaired
• Haemodialysis
Primary and out-patient mental health care, up to a maximum of eight
sessions; co - payment of 10 Euro per session116
116
Commission
48
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The Netherlands: Health and Personal

Social Services for People

with Disabilities State Report

A Contemporary Developments in Disability

This paper is one of a series of background papers describing how disability

2.1 Population with a disability ............................................................................ 8

3.1 Overview of Service Provision System ......................................................... 9

3.2 Reform of the Health Care System ............................................................. 10

3.3 Public Long Term Care Insurance .............................................................. 11

Exceptional Medical Expenses Insurance/ Long Term Care Insurance (AWBZ)

Social Support Insurance (WMO) ..................................................................... 16

3.4 Policy framework for independence and community living in the

4.1 Residential Services ................................................................................... 18

Types of accommodation for people with disabilities ........................................ 19

4.3 Care Support for people with disabilities..................................................... 21

4.4 Respite and Carer Supports........................................................................ 21

4.5 Preschool for children with disabilities ........................................................ 22

4.6 Care supports in education for children with disabilities.............................. 23

Transition from education to employment ......................................................... 26

4.7 Transport to Disability Services................................................................... 27

4.8 Day & Employment Services....................................................................... 27

Day care services ............................................................................................. 27

5. Entitlement, Choice and User Involvement ................................................... 31

5.1 Entitlement .................................................................................................. 31

5.2 Personal Care Budgets............................................................................... 32

5.3 User Involvement ........................................................................................ 35

6. Summary of Key Learning Points.................................................................. 36

APPENDIX A: List of Key informants ................................................................ 40

Appendix C: Services covered by Dutch health insurance................................ 48

SER Social and Economic Council of the Dutch government

WMO Social Support Insurance Act to promote independent living for

ZZPs Care Service Packages

CIZ Centre for Needs Assessment

NZa Dutch Health Care Authority

CVZ Health Care Insurance Board

Zwv 2006 Health Insurance Act

SKGZ Dutch Foundation for Complaints and Disputes

VGPN Dutch National Disability Council

3.2 Reform of the Health Care System

• A much more clear cut and unambiguous delineation and definition of

One of these recommendations have already been implemented. In 2008

3.3 Public Long Term Care Insurance

Long Term Care Insurance (AWBZ) is funded by income related contributions

Structure of Long Term Care Insurance (AWBZ)

Structure of Long Term Care Insurance (AWBZ)25

Health Insurers Regional Care Office

Long Term Care Provider

Table 3. Different groups of Long Term Care Insurance (AWBZ)

Type of long- Number Share of total Expenditure Share of total

Assessment of Care Needs

Care provided in the home Care provided within a

3.4 Policy framework for independence and community living

The Dutch government's policy approach on the equal treatment of people

Table 4. Current residential and home care provision in the Netherlands

Clients Residential Care Home Care

As detailed earlier out of 253,000 people in residential care, approximately

There are many types of “care in kind” or residential/institutional services in

Table 5. Costs of Care in Kind

Types of accommodation for people with disabilities