Minister Van Bossuyt puts an end to stacking of social integration incomes within families

Minister for Social Integration Anneleen Van Bossuyt is cracking down on the accumulation of integration incomes within households. At present, adults living together can each receive their own allowance, with no upper limit. In some cases, this means households are receiving over €4,000 a month. “Social assistance should support people in need, but the system must also remain fair and financially sustainable,” Van Bossuyt explains.

“Some very high amounts were being paid out—completely missing the purpose of the integration income,” the minister adds. “We’re closing loopholes, because it’s unacceptable that people who don’t work end up better off financially than those who make the effort to go to work every day.”

Public welfare centres will now assess all adults living under the same roof

From now on, when calculating entitlement to integration income, public welfare centres (OCMWs/CPAS) will have to take into account not only the income of partners, but also that of parents, grandparents, adult children, adult grandchildren, parents-in-law, sons-in-law and daughters-in-law.
“When adults live together, they share expenses. It only makes sense that their income is considered in the calculation of social assistance.”

This measure—set to take effect in December or January, depending on when it’s published in the Belgian Official Gazette—is being introduced by Minister Van Bossuyt, in cooperation with Minister for Social Affairs and Poverty Reduction Frank Vandenbroucke, with the aim of putting an end to such excesses.