Municipalities budget 2.6 billion euro for individual care

Dutch municipalities expect to spend nearly 2.6 billion euro on home help and provisions for individual mobility covered by the Social Support Act (Wmo). These are individual provisions for old and disabled people such as home help, wheelchairs, scoot mobiles, stair lifts and removing thresholds in the home.

Budget for individual provisions under the Social Support Act, 2009

Highest budget in Limburg

The budget for individual provisions under the Social Support Act is highest in Limburg. Municipalities in the province expect to spend some 186 euro per inhabitant this year on home care and provisions in homes, in transport and on wheelchairs. Municipalities in Drenthe and Zeeland also have relatively high budgets for the costs incurred under the Social Support Act. The municipalities in Flevoland, in contrast, only budget 113 euros per inhabitant.

The differences in the budgets for the costs incurred under the Social Support Act are mainly due to the difference in the age structure in the provinces. 5 in 6 people who receive home help support from the municipality are over 65. Over 17 percent of the population in Limburg, Drenthe and Zeeland is over 65. In Flevoland this is just 9 percent.
 
Paul van der Beek