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The Office national des pensions (National Pensions Fund) manages
the official pension insurance system in Belgium. This service has an ‘international
conventions’ department for claimants who have worked in at least two
countries.
In total there are four pension systems: the systems for employees, the
system for the self-employed, the system for public-sector employees, and the
system for ex-employees in the colonies and/or in a country outside the EU.
There is a ceiling for pensions and this is determined by professional
career, salary and family situation.
Short-term employment contracts do not carry pension rights.
If you come to work in Belgium for a short period, the right thereby acquired
may be disregarded in the calculation of your pension if the amount is too small
for international offsetting.
Retirement age is 65 years. Early retirement can be taken from the first
month after one’s 60th birthday if the requirements concerning the number of
years worked are satisfied.
Other pension schemes include:
Agreement-based early retirement scheme: in the case of redundancy, this
scheme allows certain older workers to receive unemployment benefit supplemented
by a contribution from the employer or from a fund acting on his behalf. The
agreement-based early retirement scheme does not constitute an early pension.
There is a fiscal system of pension saving: the annual premiums provide tax
relief.
More and more companies are taking out group insurance with commercial
insurance companies, which can also include supplementary pension payments.
Social security funds also pay out small supplementary pensions.
Wage-earners can continue to work after their 65th birthday if the employer
agrees to this. Civil servants are obliged to retire at the agreed age. The
self-employed can continue to work as long as they want, even after the
statutory retirement age.
Employees who retire may not earn more than a certain amount, which depends
on status, family situation, age, and the type of pension granted. If the
retired person earns more, their pension will be reduced or stopped.
Only one application needs to be filed in the country of residence, even if you
have worked in several other countries of the European Economic Area.
One year before the date on which you are due to retire, the application
should be submitted to the Office national des pensions (ONP) (National Pensions
Fund). It is best to submit copies of evidence of employment.
The principal address is:
- Office national des pensions (ONP)
At: Tour du Midi, 1060 Brussels
Tel: +32 (0)2 529 30 01
Text last edited on: 05/2009
Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2007
Reproduction is authorised.
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