Here is what the very informative article includes:
- types of government allowances paid to all parents in Belgium, including the birth allowance worth over €1000 for your first child and monthly child allowance of around €170
- types of paid leave for self-employed parents
- impact on social security payments and pension for self-employed mums, including exemption from
- free service cheques (‘titres services’/’dienstencheques’) worth over €900
- benefits from your health insurance fund
- additional reimbursements and services from your hospitalisation insurance provider
- tax advantages, including an increase of your tax-free allowance and tax deductions for daycare expenses
- free stuff; free stuff, including a free upgrade to first class when travelling by train in Belgium, and LOTS of companies offering gift boxes of sample products for mum and baby
Congratulations! You’re about to become a parent for the first time. Or maybe you’re growing your family and have become self-employed since your last baby was born?
Either way, Belgium is a great place to raise a family! And even though self-employed parents don’t benefit from all the same advantages as employees, there is valuable support on offer. You just have to know about it!
Government Allowances for All Parents in Belgium
Birth and Adoption Allowance
As soon as you find out you’re pregnant, you can apply for a generous birth allowance offered by the Belgian state for every child born. This is part of the family allowance system and is handled at the regional level. The exact amount and procedures to follow differ depending on the region you live in.
- In Brussels: You receive €1,340.90 for your first child, and €609.50 for subsequent children (amounts correct as of 21 May 2024; always check the Infino website for the latest amounts!).
- Timing: The amount will be paid to your bank account two months before your estimated due date. If you forget to apply for this before the birth, don’t worry, you can still apply for it after your baby has arrived.
- Adoption Allowance: If you’re adopting a baby, you’re entitled to an adoption allowance. This is the same amount as the birth allowance, but with slightly different paperwork and timing.
Once you’ve applied for the birth allowance, you’ve already set the ball in motion to receive monthly child benefit payments – no more forms to submit! The monthly payments automatically start being paid the month following the month of your baby’s birth. For example, if your baby is born on 2 April, you’ll start receiving child benefit payments as of May.
The monthly amount differs slightly by region.
Types of Paid Leave for Self-Employed Parents in Belgium
Maternity Leave
If you have been registered with a health insurance fund for at least six months, and have paid social security contributions for at least two trimesters, you are entitled to between 3 and 12 weeks of paid maternity leave (13 weeks for a multiple birth).
- Mandatory Leave: The week before the birth and two weeks after the birth are mandatory.
- Optional Leave: The remaining nine weeks can be taken either before the birth (starting three weeks before the birth at the earliest) or, in periods of 7 days, until at the latest 38 weeks after the birth. It’s also possible to take the nine optional weeks as part-time leave.
- Pay:
- Full-time is around €830 gross per week for the first four weeks (and around €750 thereafter).
- Part-time is around €415 gross per week for the first four weeks (and around €380 thereafter).
While you’re on full-time leave, you’re not allowed to perform any professional activities. On part-time leave, you can perform your usual activities at a maximum of half-time, but you’re not allowed to do any other professional activity.
What if Your Baby Is Hospitalised?
For each consecutive day your baby has to stay in hospital beyond the first seven days after the birth (provided the baby was not discharged during that time), you can extend your maternity leave by the same number of days. For example, if your baby stays in hospital for 10 days in total, your maternity leave is extended by three days.
- Maximum Extension: 24 weeks.
- Timing: The additional time is added after the two weeks of mandatory postnatal leave. It is possible to take these extra days ‘part-time’.
Adoption Leave
When you adopt a child under the age of 18, both employees and self-employed parents have the right to up to six weeks of leave.
- Mandatory Leave: One week of adoption leave.
- Individual Entitlement: Each adoptive parent is entitled to six weeks of leave, and the leave cannot be transferred between parents.
- Pay: You receive a fixed amount of almost €600 per week of adoption leave. This is paid in one go, at the latest one month after the start of your leave.
Birth Leave (Paternity/Co-Parent Leave)
All fathers and co-parents are entitled to 20 days of paid leave after the birth of their baby.
- Usage: These need to be used within four months of the birth, otherwise they are lost.
- Flexibility: As a self-employed father or co-parent, you can take this in one go, as individual days, or as half days.
- Benefits: If you take a maximum of 9 full days of leave (or 18 half days), you are entitled to receive 15 free service vouchers (‘titres services’ / ‘dienstencheques’) worth €135 in total, which can be used to pay for domestic services such as cleaning, ironing, and grocery shopping.
Social Security Payments and Pension Contributions
Social Security Exemption
Provided you have paid your social security for the two quarters before your baby’s birth, you, as a self-employed mother, do not have to pay social security for the trimester following the birth. This is automatic and requires no application.
Pension Contributions
- Good News: If you have a ‘social’ pension fund (PCLI social or sociaal VAPZ), some providers offer specific birth-related benefits. For instance:
- PCLI Sociale with Liantis adds two trimesters’ contributions to your pension plan.
- PCLI Sociale/Sociaal VAPZ with Acerta offers 25% of your pension contribution plus a €250 bonus per birth.
- Bad News: Contributions to your pension fund are not tax-deductible in the year you give birth.
Additional Benefits
Free Service Cheques
Self-employed mothers who meet the conditions for paid maternity leave are entitled to 105 hours of service cheques worth €945 in total. These cheques can be used for household help such as cleaning, ironing, or cooking.
- Validity:
- Flemish Region: 12 months.
- Walloon Region: 8 months.
- Brussels-Capital Region: 6 months.
Health Insurance Fund Benefits
Most health insurance funds offer welcome bonuses, advantages, and support for new parents. Examples include:
- Mutualité Chrétienne: €350 bonus and a breastfeeding cushion or gift voucher.
- Partenamut: €350 birth/adoption bonus and €200 worth of service cheques.
- Helan: €150 worth of home help per affiliated parent and €150 cash.
Hospitalisation Insurance Benefits
Hospitalisation insurance often covers medical care during the pre- and postnatal period. Additional services may include service cheque reimbursements, maternity care, and even pet care while hospitalised.
Tax Advantages When You Have Kids
- Tax-Free Allowance: Increased by €1,690 per child.
- Childcare Deductions: Up to €14.40 per day, with a 45% tax reduction for eligible care.
Free Stuff
Various organisations in Belgium offer free items for new parents, such as:
- SNCB/NMBS: Free first-class train travel from the 6th month of pregnancy.
- La Boite Rose / De Roze Doos: Free boxes of sample baby items.
- Babydump: Gift packages available in stores.
- Kruidvat: Baby welcome pack as part of their club.
This article was written by our member, copywriter Siobhan McGonigle.
If you are aware about any other benefits, or something needs an update, please email to info@freelancersinbelgium.be