The federal government’s reform of unemployment benefits will come into effect in January. Claimants who are unemployed will be able to receive unemployment benefits for a maximum of two years. The reform will be introduced in phases: claimants who have been unemployed the longest, 20 years or more, will be affected by the cuts first.
In Flanders, this involves a total of 4,092 people. The Flemish employment agency VDAB has now released a definitive figure. In recent weeks, all these claimants have received a personal letter informing them of the change to their situation.
The total figure of claimants who lose their benefit will increase significantly over the course of next year. On 1 March, people who have been full-time unemployed for between 8 and 20 years will lose their benefits, and on 1 April, everyone who has been unemployed for more than 2 years will lose theirs. These people will also all receive a letter this year.
Cities prepare for the fall-out
596, or approximately 15 per cent, of people who have been unemployed for more than 20 years live in Antwerp. This is followed by other big cities including Ghent, Ostend and Mechelen.
The fact that detailed information is now available is important for the municipalities concerned. It is estimated that one-third of the people who lose their unemployment benefits will turn to local social services in order to receive minimum benefit.
Local authorities are trying to prepare for the additional applications that will be received from January onwards as best they can. They have been handed extra funding from the federal government and are looking to recruit additional staff.
Previous estimates from the federal employment agency RVA showed that the reform could mean the end of benefits for around 180,000 people over the next two years.