DUO wrongfully refused supplementary grant
A student broke off all ties with her father and applied to the student funding agency DUO for a supplementary grant. But it was denied. To the judge’s annoyance, DUO barely showed any interest in her situation.
Normally, students receive some financial support from their parents. This student did not, at least not from her father. He had even cheated her several times, she told the agency.
In principle, DUO looks at the income of the parents when deciding on an additional grant. However, if students have a serious conflict with their parents, they can ask DUO to disregard their parents’ income. This is what this student did.
DUO did not go along with it. This can happen, but the judge believes (in Dutch) that in this case the organisation had failed. DUO should have supervised the student better and should have asked more questions when she did not provide enough information.
It remains to be seen whether she will receive a supplementary grant after all. DUO has eight weeks in which to take a new decision, with this verdict in mind. In the meantime, the student will be reimbursed for the legal costs. (HOP, BB)
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