Municipal services face lengthy delays: what you need to know
Residents seeking municipal support for assistive devices, household help, or youth care face waiting times of weeks to months. Staff shortages and rising demand are straining services, leaving vulnerable citizens waiting for urgent assistance.
| Category | Waiting Time | Key Reasons |
|---|---|---|
| Assistive devices | Weeks to months | High demand, staff shortages |
| Household help | Weeks to months | Aging population, complex requests |
| Guidance & youth care | Weeks to months | Increased requests, limited capacity |
| Priority cases | Immediate attention | Safety risks, domestic violence, child welfare |
| Light assistance/activities | No referral required | Preventative measures, volunteer support |
Municipalities in the Netherlands are responsible for providing social support services under the Social Support Act (Wmo) and youth care. They assess requests, allocate resources, and ensure vulnerable residents receive necessary assistance, though capacity constraints often delay service delivery.
Read the full translated article below
Need help from the municipality? Expect long waiting times
Do you need help from the municipality? Then expect long waiting times. Below, you can read about where long waiting times apply, why this is the case, and what you can do yourself.
For which types of help are there waiting times?
There are waiting times for assistive devices (such as wheelchairs and mobility scooters), household help, guidance, and youth care.
How long are the waiting times?
The waiting time varies depending on the type of help and the time of year. Expect waiting times ranging from several weeks to several months.
Why are there waiting times?
The municipality is receiving an increasing number of requests for help. This is partly due to the growing number of elderly people. The requests are also becoming more complex, especially in youth care. Additionally, there are staff shortages both within the municipality and among care providers. This is a nationwide issue that we cannot resolve quickly.
What is the municipality doing?
We are ensuring more group activities and light assistance, making them easily accessible to residents. This way, we aim to prevent small problems from turning into major issues. For example, with school consultants who assist with minor problems, or a youth mental health care practitioner at the GP’s office who can provide light psychological support to children and young people. We are also strengthening the support network around families, for instance with volunteers from Forte Thuis or Buurtgezinnen.
What can you do yourself?
We want to help the most vulnerable people—those who cannot help themselves. If you can (temporarily) arrange, pay for, or obtain help through your own network, this will help us assist those who truly cannot manage on their own.
You can find activities and assistance in the municipality, including in the areas of health and well-being, at wegwijzerbergendal.nl. No referral from your GP or the municipality is required for these activities and assistance.
How does the municipality determine who gets help first?
We are currently receiving a high number of requests each month. We carefully assess which situations are most urgent. Cases involving threats to people’s safety, domestic violence, or risks to a child’s development receive priority. This means that a request for a wheelchair, guidance, or household help may have to wait longer.
How long will this situation last? Unfortunately, we cannot say how long the long waiting times will persist. We expect the pressure to continue at least until the end of this year. In the meantime, we are working on solutions to reduce waiting times.