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The Belgian social security system broadly comprises of three schemes: one for persons in paid employment, one for self-employed workers and another for civil servants. You will find below a broad outline on the social security system for persons in paid employment, and for employees specifically.

Generally speaking, all employees are subject to Social Security. The employee’s personal contribution at present is 13.07% and is deducted from his or her salary by the employer. The employer pays this amount directly to the ONSS - RSZ. (National Social Security).

Included under the Social Security scheme are family benefits, medical benefits, health benefits, unemployment benefit, occupational accident and ill-health, and pensions.

When no contributions are paid, no benefits are payable under the Social Security system. Benefits are fixed-rate amounts or are an integrated percentage of the salary. If the latter applies, the benefits are limited.

Child benefits varies with the child’s age and the family situation. Increased child benefits are payable if the parents are retired, invalid or unemployed or if the children are disabled or orphaned. The child should normally reside in Belgium, but exceptions are made for children of EU-subjects who work or have worked in Belgium.

Medical Insurance consists of two elements: the medical care and the sickness benefits. The employee must join a National Health Service or a Medical and Invalidity Assistance insurance.

The right to medical care normally comes into effect immediately, without a waiting period. The insured person is partially or totally refunded for costs related to preventive and curative healthcare.

The right to sick pay normally applies after a waiting period of 6 months. The level of benefit is a percentage of the loss of income, up to a certain level.

Unemployment benefits are normally based on the last income received, within minimum and maximum levels. In practice, the level of the unemployment benefit is related mainly to family circumstances.

Occupational accident cover provides refunds of medical care, and benefits if the case of disability or death. The cover is similar in the case of occupational sickness.

Pension scheme for employees is applicable for all employees who work in Belgium based on a contractual agreement or equivalent. The retirement pension is based on the length of the professional career, and the wages earned. The family pension amounts to 75% of the number of career years, divided by 45 (for men) and 42 (for women). The pension of a single person is based on 60%. For women there is currently a transitional period, and as of 2009 they must complete 45v years of service to receive a full pension.

Detailed information can be obtained from the various government institutions, and from:

• European Commission, “Your Social Security when you move within the European Union”, Social dialogue and social rights, 1997, p. 230. (Various languages)
• ACV, “Guidelines for social legislation”, 2000, p. 232-408 (Dutch and French)

Further information can be obtained from the following contact points:

Information for persons in paid employment:

Information on sickness insurance:

Information on unemployment insurance:

Information about accidents at work:

Information and request for compensation in case of professional diseases:

Child benefit – central administration: