An audit of the Public Service for Social Integration revealed significant failings within the Anderlecht Public Centre for Social Welfare (CPAS), according to VRT NWS on Friday.
The audit followed allegations of malpractrice within CPAS Anderlecht featured in the Flemish public broadcaster’s investigative show, Pano, at the end of 2024.
The findings of the audit, which VRT NWS has seen, indicate that many internal procedures are either inadequate or outdated. Additionally, social workers lack proper supervision, and decisions lack sufficient justification.
Personnel issues also prevent annual inspections from being completed, which are crucial for determining eligibility for social assistance. In some cases, fictitious dates appear to have been used on forms to circumvent legal deadlines.
Following the audit, an action plan was created in collaboration with CPAS. It outlines measures and assigns responsibilities for improving operations, complete with a timeline for implementation. CPAS is also taking independent actions, such as doubling the training budget for social workers.
Social Integration Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt (N-VA) stated she would send a letter to the Brussels Region Minister-President, Rudi Vervoort. "Mismanagement creates fertile ground for abuses. I urge Minister-President Vervoort to intervene and employ all legal means to expose and prevent such misuse of public funds in the future," she said.
