Belgium to Cut Unemployment Benefits by €165 per Month Starting July

Thousands of families in Belgium face the prospect of losing part of their unemployment support as a new government measure takes effect in July 2026, drawing widespread criticism from trade unions and social organizations.

The policy will reduce unemployment benefits by up to €165 per month per person, delivering a financial blow to certain vulnerable groups, particularly job seekers registered with official unemployment records.

Media sources indicate that the impact of this change will go beyond the reduction in benefits. In some cases, long-term job seekers who fail to participate in government-mandated vocational training programs could lose their eligibility entirely.

This move is part of the Belgian government’s broader efforts to recalibrate social security budgets as part of a wider public spending reform plan. However, it has sparked discontent among trade unions and unemployed graduates, who argue that such adjustments will increase the financial strain on low-income households.

Meanwhile, some social support organizations have called for a reassessment or postponement of the measure to give affected groups time to prepare, warning that cutting benefits amid rising living costs could deepen economic and social inequalities in Belgian society.

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