Thousands of volunteers are ready to assist victims of the childcare benefits scandal in recording their stories and calculating compensation, but the effort is hampered by low registration numbers and evolving government regulations. Only a fraction of affected parents have registered with the Gelijkwaardig Herstel foundation, hindering the progress of the volunteer work.

Victims are reportedly hesitant to register due to the government’s shifting criteria for compensation. The Ministry of Finance’s decision to limit registration to victims with wrongly reclaimed amounts exceeding 30,000 euros has excluded a significant portion of those affected and created uncertainty among those who had already registered.

The foundation and the ministry have been in constant disagreement. The foundation believes that the ministry is constantly obstructing their effort, while the ministry believes that the foundation is paying out too high amounts and asking for too little evidence of the damages incurred from the victims.

This ongoing friction, coupled with changes in eligibility requirements, has led to feelings of powerlessness and distrust among victims like Patricia Bleeker, who feels the rules are being unfairly changed mid-process. The situation is exacerbated by disputes over Princess Laurentien’s role and influence within the foundation.

Despite a recommendation to make the foundation’s method the primary route for handling additional damages, the ministry is developing an alternative digital route, the details of which are not yet finalized. This has further contributed to the victims’ hesitancy, as they await more clarity before making a decision.