If you are over 60, should you see an insurance doctor for a disability benefit? We asked the target group: 69 percent of Plusonline readers don’t think so.
The statement ‘No examination required for people over sixty in case of WIA benefit.’ yielded 837 responses. 69 percent of these Plusonline readers think that the insurance doctor can be skipped when applying for disability benefit. In several municipalities this step is skipped, and in Zwolle specifically for people over 60. The reason is the great shortage of insurance doctors. The UWV has been trying for years to recruit enough insurance doctors, but it has not been successful. The result is that there are large backlogs in the inspections. There are about 60,000 files waiting.
Priority to young people
The age distinction that Zwolle makes can be defended according to the response of an anonymous reader: ‘As long as there is a major shortage of medical examiners, it is better to give priority to the young.’ Reader Alfred adds: ‘If you have been at home for two years under the treatment of a general practitioner or specialist, the examination in question will add little. Simply transfer automatically to the WIA, unless the person involved does not want this and still wants to be inspected.’
Some readers have to deal with the inspections themselves. ‘It brings a lot of stress, that inspection’, writes reader Anne. ‘I’ve been rejected since 2014 and I’m re-approved every year.’ But another reader thinks the examination is justified: ‘I myself have become 65 now and have been on disability insurance for a while, I have experienced many re-examinations, unnecessary according to my doctors. But re-examination and testing are at least necessary to draw conclusions.’
fraud
There were more people who found the inspection useful and necessary for people over 60. ‘Failure to approve unjust applications and therefore encourage fraud. Especially job seekers at LBO/MBO level in the age group 55-65 yrs who have little or no chance on the labor market will try to qualify for this’, says reader Henk. Reader Gerdie emphasizes that people over 60 should not be overlooked: ‘Active support for people over 60 can make a world of difference. I experienced that personally. You are no longer old these days when you pass 60, and your experience is a wealth of knowledge that is gladly adopted by the younger workers.’
