Aid within proceedings does not close with the case. It has a long tail: the court may return to the question of instalments, and the duty to report improvements sits with the person rather than the office.
What happens afterwards: review and the duty to report
The decision on instalments can be changed where circumstances alter substantially. The duty to report an improvement rests with you and runs for four years.
✓ Verified: 02/08/2026
WHAT TO DO
DOCUMENTS 2
› Details and tips
👩🏼💼
Lea recommends:
Note the date the proceedings ended and add four years. During that time a new job or a pay rise can bring the instalment question back, and the duty to report runs throughout.
👨🏻💻
Max recommends:
A year after the case I changed jobs and reported nothing — I simply did not know. A demand for back payment arrived and I had to explain retrospectively.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can the court change the instalments later? ▾
Yes. The court is to amend the decision on the payments due where the personal or economic circumstances governing the aid have changed substantially. This cuts both ways, so it is worth reporting a deterioration yourself.
Do I have to report improvements myself? ▾
Yes, and that is the central duty at this stage. Where economic circumstances improve substantially, or the address changes, this must be reported without any request from the court. Beyond that, the court may at any time require a statement on whether circumstances have changed.
How long can this run on? ▾
A change to the detriment of the party is excluded once four years have passed since the final decision or the other conclusion of the proceedings. Until then the question stays open.
What happens if nothing is reported? ▾
Concealing a substantial improvement is not harmless forgetfulness: it supports amending the decision and demanding payment retrospectively. Reporting and having the sum recalculated beats waiting for a check.