The UWV benefits agency gives approximately 9500 entrepreneurs one last chance to apply for the definitive calculation of the first wage support period. It was intended to help them through the corona crisis. They should have done this last weekend at the latest, but it was decided to send them a "formal last reminder". They have until January 9 next year to take action.
It is an important act. If the entrepreneurs concerned do not respond to the call, the UWV will set the subsidy for the period concerned to zero, so that the companies must repay their advances. There is also a lot of money involved. The entrepreneurs who still have to submit their application were previously paid 320 million euros in advances.
The UWV finds it a pity that these companies have not submitted an application “through the normal route”. In the period from March to May last year, a total of 139.500 employers received support for wage costs through the so-called Emergency Measure Bridging Employment (NOW), good for a total of more than 7,9 billion euros in advances. Of these, 130.000 entrepreneurs have already submitted the required application for the final settlement, although 12.000 of these companies still have to complete the required third-party or auditor's statement in the coming days.
Loss of turnover
The aid was granted at the beginning of the corona crisis. That money concerned an advance based on the wages in January 2020 and the estimated loss of turnover. The final calculation is necessary to determine what companies are actually entitled to. This can lead to a supplementary payment or a chargeback.
Last weekend many new requests for the calculation were received at the last minute. The UWV also had to answer hundreds of phone calls from entrepreneurs who still had questions. The benefits agency takes into account that a small part of the employers planned not to apply in any case. This is because they expected that they would not be entitled to NOW and therefore had to repay the entire advance. But individual circumstances could also have played a role in companies not meeting the deadline, according to a spokesperson.
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