Income Guarantee for Older Persons

Inkomensgarantie voor oudere personen, IGO

Coverage

All persons of Belgian nationality (subject to treaty, or entitled to a Belgian pension) who reside in Belgium and who do not receive a pension or whose pension does not reach a certain amount and for whom the means of subsistence do not exceed a certain amount.

Financing

Administration

The ‘Federal Pension Service’ (FDP) manages the scheme and pays out benefits.
An application for benefits is, in most cases, not required. It is investigated automatically if the person applies for an old age pension benefit or receives an old age pension or a social assistance benefit.
In all other cases, an application can be submitted to the municipality or to the ‘Federal Pension Service’ (FDP).

Qualifying Conditions

The person must have reached the statutory retirement age.
The person must have their main residence in Belgium (max. 29 days a year abroad).
The person must have Belgian nationality (or equivalent situation: treaty or Belgian pension).
Where appropriate, the person must have asserted the right to a statutory retirement pension.
The person must have insufficient means of subsistence.
Benefits are strictly means-tested within limits set by law; some income is fully exempt, e.g. family benefits; some income is partially exempt, e.g. 10% of the amount of pensions to be charged plus a basic amount; professional income (excluding EUR 5,000) and income from immovable and movable property are included in means testing; only the applicant's means of subsistence and that of the spouse or legal cohabitant with whom the person shares the same main residence are subject to means-testing.

Benefits

Lump sum benefit; amount varies with household status, i.e. whether the person is single or cohabiting (increase in the case of hospitalisation in a retirement/care home).
Amount is indexed and adjusted every two years.
Right to social tariff for gas and electricity.
Specific benefits (increased reimbursement) in the health care sector.
Benefits are not subject to income tax if total income is below certain limits.
Benefits are not subject to social security contributions.

Coverage

Financing

Administration

Qualifying Conditions

Benefits

All persons of Belgian nationality (subject to treaty, or entitled to a Belgian pension) who reside in Belgium and who do not receive a pension or whose pension does not reach a certain amount and for whom the means of subsistence do not exceed a certain amount.

The ‘Federal Pension Service’ (FDP) manages the scheme and pays out benefits.
An application for benefits is, in most cases, not required. It is investigated automatically if the person applies for an old age pension benefit or receives an old age pension or a social assistance benefit.
In all other cases, an application can be submitted to the municipality or to the ‘Federal Pension Service’ (FDP).

The person must have reached the statutory retirement age.
The person must have their main residence in Belgium (max. 29 days a year abroad).
The person must have Belgian nationality (or equivalent situation: treaty or Belgian pension).
Where appropriate, the person must have asserted the right to a statutory retirement pension.
The person must have insufficient means of subsistence.
Benefits are strictly means-tested within limits set by law; some income is fully exempt, e.g. family benefits; some income is partially exempt, e.g. 10% of the amount of pensions to be charged plus a basic amount; professional income (excluding EUR 5,000) and income from immovable and movable property are included in means testing; only the applicant's means of subsistence and that of the spouse or legal cohabitant with whom the person shares the same main residence are subject to means-testing.

Lump sum benefit; amount varies with household status, i.e. whether the person is single or cohabiting (increase in the case of hospitalisation in a retirement/care home).
Amount is indexed and adjusted every two years.
Right to social tariff for gas and electricity.
Specific benefits (increased reimbursement) in the health care sector.
Benefits are not subject to income tax if total income is below certain limits.
Benefits are not subject to social security contributions.

Legal Basis: Law of 22 March 2001 on Income Guarantee for Older Persons (Wet tot instelling van een inkomensgarantie voor ouderen).