Unemployment

The information provided below is very general. As many cases are unique and legislation is very specific and changes regularly, it is best to contact:

• if you are staying in Belgium – a trade union or CAPAC;
• if you are returning to your country of origin – the body responsible for this issue.

In Belgium, you are entitled to receive unemployment benefit if you fulfil certain conditions, including the following:

• you are listed on the Belgian national register;
• you have worked as an employee.

Doctoral and post-doctoral scholarship recipients pay social security contributions which allow them access to social security for health purposes.  Pension and unemployment are not covered, which means that they are not entitled to receive unemployment benefit during their scholarship period.

Please see:

https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/belgium/information-assistance/unemployment

and

https://www.socialsecurity.be/CMS/en/coming_to_belgium/index.html