Social Security – Old age insurance

The Office National des Pensions (National Pensions Fund) manages the official pension insurance system in Belgium. This service has an 'international conventions' department for claimants who have worked in at least two countries.

In total there are four pension systems: the systems for employees, the system for the self-employed, the system for public-sector employees, and the system for ex-employees in the colonies and/or in a country outside the EU. There is a ceiling for pensions and this is determined by professional career, salary and family situation.

Pensions are divided between family pensions and pensions for single people.

• A survivor's pension scheme exists for surviving partners.
• There is a scheme for separated spouses.
• A scheme for cross-border workers and seasonal workers also exists.
• There are also special schemes for miners, sailors, pilots and journalists.

The pension amount depends on the scheme. You may also be entitled to a pension from several schemes.

Short-term employment contracts do not carry pension rights.
If you come to work in Belgium for a short period, the right thereby acquired may be disregarded in the calculation of your pension if the amount is too small for international offsetting.

The pension age for men is 65 years. For women, it is 62 years from 1 January 2000, 63 years from 1 January 2003, 64 years from 1 January 2006, and 65 years from 1 January 2009. An early pension can be taken from the first month after one's 60th birthday if the requirements concerning the number of years worked are satisfied.

Other pension schemes include:

Early retirement pension: this scheme consists of a Belgian unemployment benefit supplemented by a contribution from the employer. The early retirement pension may be claimed from the age of 60 in accordance with the national collective labour agreement scheme or at a younger age if this is provided for in the sector collective labour agreement or company collective labour agreement or as a result of reorganisation.

There is a fiscal system of pension saving: the annual premiums provide tax relief.

More and more companies are taking out group insurance with commercial insurance companies, which can also include supplementary pension payments.

Social security funds also pay out small supplementary pensions.

Wage-earners can continue to work after their 65th birthday if the employer agrees to this. Civil servants are obliged to retire at the agreed age. The self-employed can continue to work as long as they want, even after the statutory retirement age.

Employees who retire may not earn more than a certain amount, which depends on status, family situation, age, and the type of pension granted. If the retired person earns more, their pension will be reduced or stopped.

Only one application needs to be filed in the country of residence, even if you have worked in several other countries of the European Economic Area. The application, 1 year before the date on which you are due to retire, should be submitted to the Office National des Pensions (ONP) (National Pensions Fund). It is best to submit copies of evidence of employment.
The principal address is:

• Office National des Pensions (ONP) (National Pensions Fund)
  At: Tour du Midi, 1060 Brussels.
  Tel: 020 529 21 11

There are also one or more regional offices in each province. Or you can apply to your local CPAS (Public Social Action Centre).

No rights can be derived from this text.

Text last edited on: 08/2006

Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2007
Reproduction is authorised.