Social security
Belgium has a comprehensive social security system. A proportion of the gross salary of all workers in Belgium goes towards funding it. Employees' contributions are automatically deducted by their employer. For researchers, the mandatory social security contributions and the type of cover to which they are entitled depends on their status and nationality.
According to Belgian legislation, the fellowship/gross salary is subject to full social security contributions. The researcher/employee’s personal contribution amounts 13,07% of gross remuneration.
Researchers/employees are covered for health care, sick leave, maternity/paternity leave, accidents in the workplace, occupational diseases, retirement pension, unemployment benefits and child benefit.
PhD candidates who receive a scholarship are regarded as employees where social security is concerned (as social security contributions are deducted from their scholarship). However, they are regarded as students where their status in Belgium is concerned (eg. when applying for their visa and residence permit).
Researchers who are citizens of a country with which Belgium has signed a bilateral social security agreement are subject to full social security contributions.
Their personal contribution amounts 13,07% of gross remuneration, and covers health care, sick leave, maternity/paternity leave, accidents in the workplace, occupational diseases, retirement pension, unemployment benefits and child benefit.
Researchers who are citizens of a country with which Belgium has not signed a bilateral social security agreement are subject to partial social security contributions.
Their personal contribution amounts 4,7% of gross remuneration, and covers health care, sick leave, maternity/paternity leave, accidents in the workplace, occupational diseases and child benefit, but not unemployment benefits and retirement pension.
You can check whether your country of origin has signed a bilateral social security agreement with Belgium at : www.socialsecurity.be/CMS/en/coming_to_belgium/content/coming_to_belgium/themas/spfssfodsz/FODSZ_Convention.xml
For further information, please contact the nearest EURAXESS Service Centre.
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