Social Security – Unemployment benefits

Entitlement to unemployment benefit

The local unemployment offices of the Office national de l'emploi (ONEM) (National Employment Agency) will investigate and determine entitlement to unemployment benefit.

Applicants must at least have worked in Belgium. The right to unemployment benefit depends on your age and on how long you have worked within the EEA during the reference period: if you are under 36 years of age, you must prove that you have worked for 312 days in the 18 months prior to your application. If you are between 36 and 50 years of age, you must prove that you have worked for 468 days in the 27 months prior to your application. If you are 50 or more years of age, you must prove that you have worked for 624 days in the 36 months prior to your application.

You can consider other possibilities in consultation with the National Employment Office (ONEM/RVA). In particular, there are other ways of satisfying the requirements – for instance, by a longer reference period or an extension of the reference period, for example, for time spent working on a self-employed basis, or, if you are over 36 years of age, through an extension of the reference period.

How do I apply for unemployment benefit?

If you are temporarily unemployed, you can apply for benefit to the competent body (the ONEM/RVA) in Belgium. Once your contract expires, you can apply for unemployment benefit only in your country of residence (i.e. where you live permanently).

Upon dismissal or when your employment contract comes to an end, your employer will issue you with a Document C. This document will allow you to apply to a payment body of your choice for unemployment benefit.

This can be a:

• payment centre linked to a trade union (FGTB, CSC or CGSLB), or
• CAPAC (Unemployment Benefits Welfare Office)

Length of unemployment

The length of unemployment influences the payment and is divided into three periods:

• Period 1: 60% persons living together, with dependants; 60% single individuals; 55% persons living together
• Period 2: 60%; 44%; 35%
• Period 3: 60%; 44%; lump-sum benefit

Forms E 301 and E 303

If you are in possession of a form E 3003 1-5 when you arrive, you must first register at the local employment office and at the competent employment centre (ORBEM in Brussels, FOREM in Wallonia or VDAB in Flanders).

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Text last edited on: 08/2006

Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2007
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