Many employers in culture may have to repay emergency NOW aid in full

Many employers (37 per cent) do not know that they have to apply for the final calculation of their NOW allowance themselves. In the cultural sector, it even threatens to go completely wrong. The UWV says it is still waiting for more than half of the applications for final calculations from the cultural sector. This is according to the implementing body's own research. People there are worried because the deadline for finalising aid in the first NOW application period is approaching. If employers fail to apply for the final calculation on time, it could lead to a recovery of the entire advance.

From the beginning of April to the end of May 2020, over 139,000 employers applied for an advance on their wage bill through the NOW scheme. Applying and receiving the advance payment was the first step of the process. Applicants must now also apply for the calculation themselves to determine the final amount of support. Nationwide, some 60,000 employers have so far applied for a final calculation for the first aid period. However, over 79,000 (57%) have not yet done so.

Employers risk having to repay aid received

The UWV survey shows that 961 of the 1,902 employers in the cultural sector have yet to apply for their final calculation. For the emergency support employers received in the first support period, employers can still apply for a final calculation until 31 October 2021. Janet Helder, board member at UWV: 'There is still time. But employers who do not apply for the final calculation risk running into problems later. No final calculation means that the allowance is set at zero and so you have to repay your entire advance. We want to avoid that. So the fact that we are now at just 49.5% is worrying.'

Busy auditors

Employers who need third-party or audit opinions have an additional problem. Helder: 'Bookkeepers and accountants are incredibly busy at the moment. That is why it is really important that employers know that they have to take action themselves and that they have to get to work now.'

37% not aware

Of the employers who have not yet submitted an application, 44% say they are still in the process of collecting documents or waiting for the third-party or audit opinion. Some 15% say they are deliberately waiting. But 37% of employers take no action because they are not sufficiently aware that they have to apply for the final calculation themselves.

Help for employers

Employers can apply for their final calculation since 7 October 2020 and the application must be submitted by 31 October 2021. The final calculation is needed to determine the final allowance employers are entitled to. For this purpose, the actual wage bill and the actual turnover loss will be looked at.

Good to know

What an employer must do to request a final calculation has been provided by UWV on this information page explained. Using explanation videos, step-by-step plans and simulation tools, among others, UWV helps employers get started. In addition, it is possible to call UWV Phone NOW at 088 - 898 20 04. Requesting a final calculation can be done here.