Belgium unemployment benefit calculator (2026 reform)
Calculate your Belgian unemployment benefit: amount, duration and eligibility after the 2026 reform. Based on official ONEM scales.
Your situation
Eligibility (optional)
Enter your last gross salary to estimate your benefit.
Belgium unemployment reform 2026: the answer in 30 seconds
Since 1 March 2026, full unemployment benefit is limited to a maximum of 24 months. Enter your last gross salary and household situation above to estimate the amount you could receive. The result is an estimate: only the ONEM, CAPAC or your union can confirm entitlement.
Unemployment in Belgium since the 2026 reform
Since 1 March 2026, unemployment regulations have changed profoundly. The most important change: full unemployment benefits are now limited to 24 months. This tool estimates your benefit amount during the first year and reminds you of this new maximum duration.
A decreasing amount
The benefit decreases over time: 65% of your last salary (capped) for the first 3 months, then 60% up to month 12, with a floor and ceiling depending on your family situation. From months 13 to 24 it becomes a flat amount unrelated to your former salary: one single drop, then a stable figure up to the 24-month limit.
That drop is steep for a cohabitant: from €1,302.86 a month at the lowest point of the first twelve months to €761.02, 42% less. With a dependent family the flat rate is €1,809.34, for a single person €1,466.40. This extension is not automatic: it is earned through your work history, one month per 104 days worked.
Full unemployment or integration allowance?
Two different regimes coexist. Full unemployment concerns a worker who has worked enough days and loses their job: this is the case estimated by this tool (decreasing amount, duration capped at 24 months). Integration allowances target young people at the end of their studies, based on their diploma and an integration internship; their amount is a flat rate and their duration is limited to 1 year. The access conditions and amounts do not follow the same rules.
Just been dismissed? First check your notice period and indemnity before estimating your benefit above.
Frequently asked questions
What changed with the reform of 1 March 2026?
The main change is the time limitation of benefits: full unemployment is now capped at 24 months (12 base months + up to 12 depending on work history). Integration allowances are limited to 1 year. Exceptions exist (RCC, workers aged 55+ with a long career).
How is the amount calculated?
Based on your last gross salary (capped), on a decreasing basis: 65% for the first 3 months, then 60% up to month 12. The result is bounded by a minimum and a maximum that depend on your family situation (with dependent family, single, or cohabitant).
Am I eligible?
Since 1 March 2026 the condition is the same at any age: 312 working or equivalent days within a 36-month reference period, which can be extended in certain cases. The reform abolished the former age-based scale, which required up to 624 days from age 50. This indication remains approximate: the ONEM examines your full file.
How long can I receive unemployment benefit in 2026?
Since the reform of 1 March 2026, full unemployment is capped at 24 months maximum: 12 base months, plus up to 12 additional months depending on your work history. Integration allowances (granted after studies) are limited to 1 year.
Is unemployment benefit taxable?
Yes: it is a replacement income, taxable, but benefiting from a specific tax reduction. Depending on your situation, a reduced withholding tax may already be deducted from payments.
Is this calculation official?
No. It is an estimate based on the public ONEM scale, provided for information purposes. Only the ONEM (via your union or the CAPAC) can determine your exact entitlements.
Related tools
