Service vouchers – called "titres-service" in French – will only be available digitally from June 2025 as the paper versions will disappear definitively, confirmed publisher Pluxee and the Flemish Department for Work and Social Economy on Thursday.
The previous Flemish Government decided last year that the paper service vouchers would disappear from 2025. Already purchased paper service vouchers can still be used after June, up to a year after the purchase date, they announced on Thursday.
An estimated 20% of service voucher users opt for the paper version, according to previous figures. Those using paper service vouchers will receive a letter explaining how they can order and use electronic ones. Various helplines are offered for users who are less digitally skilled.
"But the easiest thing is for a person they know and trust to help them," said Pluxee. The Flemish Government has previously promised that the authorisation system will be improved, so the cheques can easily be purchased by a family member or acquaintance. Users can find more information on the website.
Smoother and simpler
"You can order the electronic service cheques by bank transfer, via the mobile app, via the website or the mobile banking app of Belfius, KBC or Fortis," Pluxee said.
Pluxee will also provide a solution where the consumer can use their electronic service vouchers without having to do anything online. "At the end of February 2025, those using the paper vouchers will receive a letter with more information about this solution."
According to the previous Flemish Employment Minister Jo Brouns (CD&V), the new system will be "more accessible, smoother and simpler." Expired service vouchers will be automatically refunded.
The new system also offers advantages for domestic help, because they no longer have to fill in a paper voucher and no longer run the risk of losing it. For service voucher companies, digitalisation has the advantage that the government can align the subsidy with the date of the service instead of the purchase of the voucher by the user. Due to the many indexations in recent years, this has had negative financial effects for these companies.
With service vouchers, families can pay for a household help. In Flanders, the system has approximately 750,000 users, 127,000 employees and 1,108 service voucher companies.
