The new application round for STAP subsidy took just over 2.5 hours. Since 10 a.m. this morning, people could apply for a subsidy of 1000 euros again for following a course or training, at 12:32 p.m. the pot was already empty.
During this application round, EUR 34 million was available. More than 40,000 people have successfully submitted an application. Some of the applications have already been granted, says the implementing organization UWV. The majority of applicants will be notified within a few days.
Many people were ready this morning to get hold of the subsidy, because the demand was already expected to be high:
At its peak, there were 250,000 devices in the queue. That does not mean that it was also 250,000 people, because people often use multiple devices to increase their chance. However, many people will not have made it through.
400 per minute
The UWV, which processes the applications, says that about 400 applications could be processed per minute. Anyone between the ages of 18 and 65 could apply for the subsidy for a course that can improve your labor market position.
Minister van Gennip of Social Affairs and Employment wants to improve the application procedure even further. “We are doing everything so that we can have better queues for the next application. But it is also important that this continues, so that people can apply for the training they need.”
People could actually apply for money at the beginning of January, but that subsidy round was scrapped. The government first wanted to take measures to prevent abuse of the scheme. After that, money would be distributed again on February 28, but then it was canceled due to a major malfunction.
For those who did not succeed today: there will be four subsidy rounds of 34 million euros each this year. The next one is on May 1.
- In the queue for the STAP budget: ‘It’s a kind of lottery’
- Cabinet scraps application round training budget due to abuse
- UWV: March 17, new opportunity to apply for STAP budget
