More than 230,000 Belgians with a disability receive a monthly income replacement allowance. That number has never been this high before – on an annual basis, this is an increase of 6.2%.
Many people who are entitled to financial compensation often do not apply for it. That is why the Directorate General for Persons with Disabilities of the Federal Public Service for Social Security recruited additional staff last year.
"It involved 65 people, including 20 additional social assistants," director general Julie Clement told De Zondag.
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"Through home visits, the social assistants have direct contact with citizens and can guide them through the various steps of an application or the guidance of their file," she said. "With the arrival of the new colleagues, we now organise 45% more sitting days than before. The backlog in social investigations has also fallen drastically in all provinces."
A total of 593,440 Belgians have their disability recognised by the government agency. There are also 476,114 valid parking cards for people with disabilities in circulation in Belgium.
