Moving from unemployment to welfare
Looking for work doesn’t always work out right away. Fortunately, many people in the Netherlands can get WW benefits while they are looking for work. Only sometimes the application for WW benefit is rejected. Or you do not succeed in finding work before the WW benefit expires. Then, if you still need financial help, you can apply for welfare benefits. But this transition from WW to social assistance can be complicated. What information do I need to provide? And what rules actually apply? The Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment asked itself: can this transition be simplified? If so, how do we do that?
In conversation with citizens
Rather a job than benefits
We interacted with citizens who have experienced this transition.
For example, we discovered that there is a barrier to applying for assistance.
Some citizens prefer to postpone it because there is still a small chance that next week’s job interview will go well.
This increases the chance of financial problems if that interview turns out not to go so well after all.
In co-creation with stakeholders
From insight to opportunity
Together with UWV and several municipalities, we reflected on known pitfalls, possible improvements and solution directions based on the insights from the interviews. Muzus then compiled the insights into important key moments and themes. Together, that led to new thinking and opportunities for simplifying the transition. For example, what would it look like if you didn’t move from one benefit to another, but received one benefit until you got new work?
Muzus did this project on behalf of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment. In this, we worked together with UWV and the municipalities of Amsterdam, Apeldoorn, Groningen, Nijmegen, Rotterdam, Ooststellingwerf and Orionis Walcheren. Are you curious about the report? You can find the report here.
