If you are part of the Belgian social security system (working as an employee or as a self-employed) you should be entitled to receive monthly family allowance payments (“allocations familiales”-“kinderbijslag”) for each child in your household.
Major changes
The family allowances (“allocations familiales”-“kinderbijslag”), governmental aid dedicated to families with dependent children, is - by the 6th State Reform - ruled by the regions and no longer by the federal government. This has come into force in Flanders since January 2019, and the Region of Brussels Capital and Wallonia will implement it Brussels from January 2020.
This means that for all questions and requests related to your family allowances, you can liaise with the following organisations:
There are however also four private operators on the market.
How to proceed?
Complete a form (available from your health insurance organisation) to request the child benefits, which is available from the child benefit fund with which your employer is affiliated, or, if you are self-employed, to your social insurance fund. Do not forget to enclose the document received from the local authority when you registered your child (specific birth certificate for applying for family allowances).
What happens when parents work for European institutions?
In the event that both parents work for a European institution, it will become their institution's responsibility. When their child is born, they will automatically receive child benefits. In the event that one parent works in the Belgian system (as employee or self-employed) and the other works for a European institution, you will not receive any EU allowance. However, the child can receive supplementary cover from the institution, after deduction of the amount already received under Belgian law.
