This chapter tells you what you need to know in order to benefit from other social assistance allowances in Belgium.

In what situation can I claim?

If your means of support are inadequate and you cannot change this situation by yourself, you are entitled, in principle, to other social assistance allowances in addition to social integration income:

• Guaranteed income for elderly persons (GRAPA);
• Allowances for disabled persons (ARR and additional family benefits).

What conditions do I need to meet?

Guaranteed income for elderly persons (GRAPA)

The GRAPA or guaranteed income for elderly persons is a minimum income allocated by the authorities to the aged people who have reached pension age, i.e. currently 65 years, subject to certain conditions relating to nationality and residence in Belgium. The GRAPA is awarded when a person has insufficient means to live.

Allowances for disabled persons

The federal authorities grant financial assistance to disabled persons who do not have sufficient income to provide for their needs. The allowances system for disabled persons is intended for the most deprived. This is a residual scheme. Disabled persons must meet certain conditions in order to benefit from this social assistance (certification of disability, income, age).

Income replacement allowance (ARR)

It can be awarded to a disabled person if their disability limits their capacity to work and therefore their ability to acquire an income through work. This assistance is however linked to several conditions, such as:

• nationality;
• age;
• status;
• place of real residence;
• income (of the disabled person and of the person with whom they share a household).

What am I entitled to and how can I claim?

Guaranteed income for elderly persons (GRAPA)

As soon as you reach the legal retirement age (currently 65), the Federal Pensions Service (SFP) automatically checks if you are entitled to the GRAPA. Entitlement to this financial assistance is automatically considered if you are receiving an allowance for disabled persons or the integration income and reach the statutory pension age.

• If you live with one or more persons, you can receive the basic amount of € 11,680.32 per annum (or € 973.36 per month);
• If you live alone, you can receive the higher amount of € 17,520.36 per annum (or € 1,460.03 per month).

If you have applied for a pension this also constitutes a GRAPA application. If you have not applied for a pension you should contact your municipal administration or the Federal Pensions Service.

Allowances for disabled persons:

• the income replacement allowance (ARR): the amount of the allowance is defined based on the family circumstances of the disabled person: single, in a household, cohabiting, dependent children, in an institution;
• the additional family benefits for children with disabilities. To obtain this allowance please contact your family benefits fund.

Disabled persons are also entitled to social and fiscal benefits, with for example:

• a reduction in taxes; 
• access to social housing;
• parking card.

More information about social and fiscal benefits for disabled persons is available on the website of the FPS Social Security:

http://socialsecurity.belgium.be/fr and at http://handicap.belgium.be/fr/   

Jargon busters

• APA: Allowance for assistance to the elderly. Forms part of the allowances for disabled persons and applies to over 65 year olds.
• AI: Integration allowance. To help disabled persons meet the costs of improvements to the quality of their day-to-day lives (motorised wheelchair, special equipment, etc.)
• ARR: Income replacement allowance.
• GRAPA: Guaranteed income for elderly persons.
• SFP: Federal Pensions Service (Service fédéral des pensions)

Forms you may need to fill in

For the ARR, requests can be made via “My Handicap” (https://www.socialsecurity.be/citizen/fr/static/applics/myhandicap/index.htm )

Know your rights

The links below allow you to find out more about your rights. These sites are not dependent upon the European Commission and so do not represent the viewpoints of the latter;

To find out more about the GRAPA please refer to the SPF website on https://www.sfpd.fgov.be/fr/droit-a-la-pension/grapa

More information about allowances for disabled persons on the Federal Public Service for Social Security website  and on the social security portal.

More information about the additional family benefits:

• Flemish Community: https://www.fons.be/
• Brussels-Capital Region: http://www.iriscare.brussels/fr/iriscare-fr/
• Walloon Region: https://www.aviq.be/familles/index.html

German-speaking Community: http://www.ostbelgienlive.be/ Commission publication and websites:

• Social security benefits: your rights abroad as a European citizen.

Who do you need to contact?

Guaranteed income for elderly persons: Federal Pensions Service (SFP):

• Free phone number from Belgium: 1765
• Chargeable number from abroad: +32 78151765
• Address: Tour du Midi – Esplanade de l’Europe 1 - 1060 Brussels
• Website: http://www.sfpd.fgov.be/fr

Allowances for disabled persons: Federal Public Service for Social Security office for disabled persons:

• Contact form on the website
• Free phone number from Belgium: 0800 98799
• Website: http://www.handicap.fgov.be/fr

In the event of any problems with your rights as a European citizen: EU helpdesks