For the first time in Belgium, family allowances paid in June will be different for different regions. As a result of the pivot index being surpassed during the month of May, social benefits will have to be indexed. However, Flanders has decided not to apply this principle for family allowances, according to Famifed, the Federal Agency responsible for family allowances.
Since the sixth reform of the State, the federal entities (the Walloon Region, the Flemish Region, the German-speaking Community and the Cocom) will be able to decide independently on the amount to be awarded within them. On 30 June in the public sector and on 8 July for employees and self-employed persons, the family allowance funds will pay different amounts in view of the situation in Flanders. While the amount for children in the north of the country will remain at the same level, that for those in the rest of the country will increase slightly.
Non-indexation concerns only the amounts granted, the income ceilings used in particular for calculating social supplements being adapted to the new index in Flanders, says Famifed.
The Brussels Times
