Social Security – General Organisation

When you start work in Belgium, you pay contributions to the social security system. It is your employer who must complete the necessary formalities for your affiliation, except for health insurance, for which you must choose a mutual benefit association or register with the auxiliary health insurance fund.

The amount of social security contribution is equal to 13.07% of your gross salary. It is deducted from your salary by your employer.

A number of points should be borne in mind:

• When you start work, you become entitled to family allowances in Belgium unless you have the right to receive these in another country. Belgium may well grant an increase.
• When you begin work under an employment contract, you immediately become entitled to have medical expenses refunded through the sickness fund. However, you do not become eligible for replacement income until a minimum period of insurability of six months within the EEA has elapsed.
• You remain insured by the country of residence if you are in receipt of unemployment benefit when you arrive or if you come on secondment.

Short periods of work do not normally carry pension rights in Belgium.

Text last edited on: 08/2006

Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2007
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