Thread by @MarankeWieringa

Alright, so I did some breathing exercises and let me share a bit more. For those who don't know me, I am a Dutch disabled scholar working on algorithms. This is my professional and personal nightmare. I undoubtedly will be flagged by such a system. 🧵1/
theguardian.com/society/2021/n…

I am TERRIFIED that the UWV will do something like this, because I will absolutely be flagged as high risk.

Why?
- I used to have fluctuating income;
- A lot of times I never know what to put where on a form;
- I probably have forgotten to submit things at some point. 2/

I was so terrified of stuff like this I actually begged them to just withhold sending me the benefits in advance and just calculate the amount owed (if any) afterwards. Yep, I rather have less money than I am entitled to then deal with the beast that is UWV. 3/

I also had problems putting things on forms. Note: I am a highly educated person, and I absolutely FAILED. These forms are a mess.

In ye olde postal times this was not neccessarily a problem. I would attach a letter explaining the situation and they would (sort of) fix it. 4/

But lo and behold, now we have automated the whole form.

Progress? Well..
- I can't make notes in the margins;
- I have about a tweet's worth of commentary space;
- I can't send attachments. 5/

And so, I have absolutely no way of letting UWV know about why I probably filled something out in a funky way.

I have no delusions about how a fraud risk detection algorithm would cope with that. 6/

I recognize the dread and terror that a letter of such an organization can instill in people. Every time I get a letter from them (and mind you I have not received disability benefits in years), my heart rate goes up and I am scared. 7/

I'm scared that I finally broke their system and I will get punished for not fitting their mould.

I don't think that terror will ever go away. 8/

If you add algorithms to this mix: it's an absolute recipe for disaster.. 9/9

Addendum: for those unfamiliar. You need to submit any changes in your situation/your partner's within 1 week to the UWV. Just heard you have a uncurable, debilitating condition? 1 week! Partner's got a new job? 1 week.

I'm pretty sure I forgot to send them a lot of updates. 😬

Also: yes, I still need to update them about all these things even though I am not receving any benefits. FUN.

A list of what you need to update them on, within 1 week:
- Changes in personal information;
- Work-related stuff;
- Income from something else then work;
- Volunteer work;
- Helping a friend out;
- Education/internship;
- Your living situation/the income of your partner (cont.)

- 'Other changes that could impact your benefits' (how the hell should I know?!)
- Any changes in your medical status;
- And you are required to work to improve your health and may be required to follow particular procedures, or have your benefits cut.

Oh yeah, this is in another list, but you're also required to inform them of things like hospital stays, long vacations/work visits abroad.

(This is one of the reasons I never studied/worked abroad. 🙃)