UHT Attender

Benefits Department

The algorithm helps to ensure that affected parents are informed in a timely and appropriate manner about developments in the UHT processes that are relevant to them, in relation to the childcare allowance issues. 

Last change on 6th of August 2026, at 7:40 (CET) | Publication Standard 1.0

• Publication category: Impactful algorithms
• Impact assessment: DPIA
• Status: In use

General information

Theme

Social Security

Begin date

2022-09

Contact information

[e-mail]

Link to publication website

https://herstel.toeslagen.nl/

Responsible use

Goal and impact

This algorithm helps to ensure that parents affected by the childcare allowance issues are informed in a timely manner about developments in their case or file at UHT. The algorithm identifies who needs a letter or contact card in this context. The algorithm is also used to send parents a letter if someone cannot be reached by telephone. Thanks to the algorithm, parents remain informed and can, if necessary, take timely action themselves. This ensures they receive the best possible assistance as quickly as possible.

Considerations

Using this algorithm offers the following benefits:

· Transparency: parents are kept fully informed about their situation regarding the recovery of childcare allowance and the Fraud Detection System.

· Timely: notifications are sent at the right time.

· Efficient: processes run more quickly and involve less paperwork.

· Consistent: everyone receives notifications in the same way. This improves the reliability of the process.

· Flexible: communication and processing can be easily adapted if parents or the organisation wish to change the approach.

· Accurate: only the correct parents are selected.

When weighing up the use of the algorithm, the following potential drawbacks were taken into account:

· Quality of source data: the algorithm’s performance depends on the quality of the available data. Incorrect, incomplete or out-of-date data may affect the algorithm’s results. To mitigate this risk, random checks are carried out on the generated output.

· Limited human judgement: the algorithm may be less able to take exceptional or unique situations into account. In exceptional cases, a member of staff reviews the results. There are additional manual checks and a clear escalation process.

Human intervention

· Staff carry out spot checks to ensure that parents receive the correct letters.

· They check that mailings are correct and sent on time.

· The algorithm helps to ensure effective communication with parents. Parents can always contact UHT if they think something is incorrect or unclear.

Risk management

· Risk management and safeguards

The Benefits Service has drawn up conditions for the development of algorithms, in the form of a quality framework. This sets out rules and agreements that must be followed when developing this algorithm. The conditions originate from the Central Government Audit Service and are binding. The algorithm has business rules based on legislation and regulations. These business rules are tested and maintained to ensure continued compliance with legislation, regulations and policy objectives. Whenever changes are made to the algorithm, the Benefits Service assesses whether the quality requirements are still being met.

· Equality, non-discrimination and privacy

The use of data is assessed against the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The GDPR stipulates that we may not use more data than is necessary to achieve a specific purpose. This is known as data minimisation. The Benefits Service examines which data is necessary and may be used.

· Profiling

The use of data is assessed to prevent unlawful profiling from taking place.

· Citizens’ rights

Citizens have the right to view the information collected about them. They may also submit a request to have this information amended.

Legal basis

· Act on the Recovery of Child Benefit Allowances

· General Data Protection Regulation Implementation Act

· Citizen Service Number (General Provisions) Act

· Archives Act 1995

· Selection Lists of the Benefits Service

For further information, see: https://wetten.overheid.nl and wetten.nl – Regulations – Benefits Recovery Operation Act

Impact assessment

Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA)

Operations

Data

The algorithm uses, amongst other things:

· National ID number, name and, where applicable, dates of death

· Contact details (telephone number, email address, postal address)

· Financial and legal data (previous payments, criminal sanctions, fines for offences)

Using the relevant data, we ensure that parents receive the correct letters throughout their journey with UHT.

Technical design

The ‘Attenderen’ algorithm assists in identifying parents and determining what communications they should receive. The algorithm facilitates a step-by-step process to establish which parents are involved and which parents need to be informed. A dataset is compiled on this basis.

In step 1, key data such as national identity numbers, dates of death and contact details are collected. This helps to determine which parents are involved in the process.

In step 2, the collected data is checked to ensure that deceased individuals have been excluded. The most recent contact details, such as telephone numbers, are also added.

In step 3, we check which parents have previously received important letters and at what stage of the process their case is.

In step 4, letters are prepared based on the data collected to provide parents with information or updates.

In step 5, a team reviews the data to ensure that everything is correct and complete before it is used further.

In step 6, following the check, the data is forwarded for further action or the letters are sent out.

These steps ensure that the algorithms function correctly and that they do exactly what is required for the process. We carry out all these steps whilst respecting parents’ privacy, in accordance with the rules of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).