employement insurance

Unemployment insurance in Belgium provides financial support to people who have lost their jobs involuntarily and are actively seeking new employment. Here is an overview of the eligibility criteria and main mechanisms:

Eligibility criteria

To qualify for unemployment insurance in Belgium, you must meet several conditions:

• Salaried employment: You must have worked under a contract of employment and paid social security contributions.
• Involuntary loss of employment: The end of the contract must not be due to serious misconduct.
• Sufficient period of work: Hours worked vary according to age and reference period.

Registering as a job seeker

• You must be registered as a job-seeker with the relevant service in your region (Actiris, Forem, VDAB, or ADG).
• You must be actively available to accept a job or participate in training.

Amount and duration of benefits

• Benefits depend on your former gross salary, with the percentage decreasing over time: 65% of gross salary for the first few months and 55% after a longer period.
• A salary ceiling is applied for calculation purposes.

Special cases

• If you are self-employed or have left your job voluntarily, special rules apply. Certain situations, such as medical reasons, may justify voluntary departure.

Links

For more detailed information on conditions, please consult regional websites or the NEO website: www.onem.be.