The word “before” costs the state NOK 22 million extra – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country

Language can be confusing for many. Sometimes it also has direct consequences for the national economy. Because when the Ministry of Children and Families was to write down the new rules for cash benefits, things went completely wrong. Someone forgot to write the word “before” in the legal text. More specifically in paragraph 8. This meant that the law was not changed as the politicians had intended. It costs the Norwegian state NOK 22.5 million a month in extra cash support for around 3,000 parents. – Practical reasons In a letter to the Storting, Minister of State Kjersti Toppe (Sp) wrote the following: “The change in the wording of the provision has been shown to have unintended consequences, in that persons with children aged 13 to 19 months, from 1 August 2024, will have right to cash support also for the same month the child starts kindergarten.” For now, it is not clear whether the extra payment to the approximately 3,000 parents must be paid back. – If some of those who now receive cash support are not actually entitled to it, there may be a question of repayments. This is what the Ministry of Children and Families wrote in an e-mail to news. But they add that this is uncertain as all circumstances in this case have not been clarified. Asking questions news has been in contact with parents who find it difficult to understand what has happened. Especially because some people get cash support in August, others don’t. – The language they use is incomprehensible, says a person who had expected to receive cash support, but who nevertheless does not receive it. Attempts at clarification On nav.no, the Ministry of Children and Families has tried to clarify the matter as follows: From 1 August 2024, you can receive cash support from the month the child turns 13 months up to and including the month the child turns 19 months. The change means that the period in which you can receive cash support has been reduced from eleven to seven months. Changes have also, unintentionally, been made to how long you can receive cash support on termination when the child has been given a nursery place. According to previous rules, you received cash support up to and including the month before the child had received a nursery place. After the unintended change, you can also receive cash support for the month the child has been given a nursery place. However, the Ministry of Children and Families has clarified that this extension does not apply to those who have received cash benefits up to and including 31 July 2024 and have children who start kindergarten in August. There are several questions that remain unresolved. The Ministry of Children and Families is working on these clarifications. More information will come when we know more. Also on various Facebook groups, so-called mum groups, the discussion has been heated in recent days. – Unfortunate case – The case is unfortunate, and can contribute to making it unclear for families whether they are entitled to cash support, writes the minister in the letter to the Storting about the case. The Ministry of Children and Families wrote in an e-mail to news that they should actually simplify the wording of the law. This led to someone now being able to get an extended right to cash support for the same month that the child starts kindergarten. Want to learn from the mistake – It wasn’t meant to be. The linguistic simplification that is decisive is that the word “before” has been taken out of the legal text, writes the ministry. They state that mistakes like this that happen in legal work and go undetected are serious. – The ministry will learn from this, they wrote to news. The Ministry of Children and Families is now planning to promote a bill as soon as possible with proposals for changes that correct the mistake. Published 01.09.2024, at 12.18



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