In the coalition framework agreement, the governing political parties already promised that the new government would allocate 1.4 billion euros to provide compensation for students who missed out on the basic grant between 2015 and 2023. The first version of the necessary legislative amendment is now available online.
The government wants to give loan-system students an additional compensation of ‘approximately 40 euros’ per month for the basic grant they missed out on. For four years of study, this amounts to about 1,920 euros – slightly more than the first compensation that has been disbursed since the beginning of this year (1,640 euros).
The second amount will also initially be deducted from the study debt or otherwise deposited into the bank account. Those eligible for the first compensation will automatically qualify for the second as well.
Exceptional circumstances
Everyone can respond to the legislative proposal until 2 May. A difference from the first compensation is that the target group will be expanded to include an estimated six thousand students who were unable to obtain their diploma due to ‘exceptional circumstances’. This includes factors such as disability, a functional limitation, or a chronic illness. They will not only be eligible for the additional compensation from 2027 but also retroactively for the first compensation.
The same applies to ‘several dozen’ students in comparable circumstances who were unable to obtain their diploma within the stipulated ten years. For them, Minister Bruins intends to extend the diploma period to a maximum of fifteen years.
Gain
If the legislative proposal is approved, the first four cohorts of unlucky students will receive a total compensation of 5,600 euros – study voucher included – for four years of study. For students living at home, this amount is one thousand euros higher than what they missed out on in the basic grant.
