Stacking living wage benefits within a family no longer allowed

The measure introduced by Minister for Social Integration Anneleen Van Bossuyt to curb the stacking of living wage benefits within families comes into force today. “Until now, adults living under the same roof could combine their living wage benefits without limit. In some cases, this added up to more than €4,000. We want to put an end to these excesses,” Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt said.

Closing loopholes

Social assistance is meant to support people in need, but the system must also remain fair and financially sustainable. “In some instances, very high amounts were paid out, going far beyond the original purpose of the living wage,” Van Bossuyt explained. “We are closing loopholes, because it cannot be the case that people who do not work are financially better off than those who make an effort on the labour market every single day.”

From now on, when determining entitlement to a living wage, Public Centres for Social Welfare (OCMW/CPAS) will have to take into account not only the resources of partners, but also those of parents, grandparents, adult children, adult grandchildren, parents-in-law, sons-in-law and daughters-in-law living in the same household. “When adults live together, they also share expenses. It is therefore logical that their income is included in the calculation of the living wage.”