Debt is becoming an increasing problem among young adults, and paying health insurance is a major cause, broadcaster NOS said on Wednesday.

Debt collection agency Flanderijn currently has 45,000 youngsters on its books and sees their number increasing by 1% or 2% a year, director Michel van Leeuwen said. And Paul Otter, a bailiff with the Syncasso collection group said the increase in young debtors is “significant enough to think there is something going on.”

Single people earning up to €37,496 a year are entitled to help with paying for health insurance, with a maximum payout for the lowest earners of €123 a month. People who claim too much are required to pay the excess back.

Research by family spending institute Nibud in 2021 among trade school students suggested many are not aware they can claim. And Flanderijn told NOS that it is aware of people not daring to claim the benefit in case they do have to pay it back.

Many young adults get into difficulty when they reach the age of 18 because they are not aware of what is expected of them, Nancy Rijssel from Stichting Young Adults Life Coaching told NOS.

Parents do not always teach their offspring about dealing with their finances, and this is particularly an issue in households where money is a problem, she said.