Member login

This page is under construction for Brussels and Wallonie

Administration during pregnancy and childbirth

  • The growth package
  • Maternity rest and birth leave
  • Recognition and declaration
  • Insurance and hospitalization
  • Help and care at home

The Family Allowances

Request for starting amount

  • There are already children in this relationship : application through child support fund that pays the current basic amount of the youngest child.
  • It is the first child in this relationship : free choice in child support fund.

Child support fund

Birth grant

  • Amount: varies from year to year and from region to region.
  • To be applied for from 4 months before the expected delivery date.
  • Payment at the earliest 2 months before the expected delivery date.

Base amount

  • Amount: varies from year to year and from region to region.
  • First, register the baby with the population department of the city/municipality where the baby was born.
  • The chosen payer who paid the starting amount will also automatically pay the base amount and any surcharges after delivery.

Maternity rest

Workers with maternity rest

  • Total: 15 weeks
  • Before childbirth: 1 week mandatory
  • After childbirth: 9 weeks mandatory
  • Other weeks free to choose
  • Total: 19 weeks
  • Before childbirth: 1 week mandatory
  • After childbirth: 9 weeks mandatory
  • Other weeks free to choose

Postnatal rust

  • Maternity rest
    • Goal: as much postpartum maternity rest as possible (since June 2020)
    • If prenatal leave 7 days before the effective delivery date
    • 14 weeks with one child
    • 18 weeks with multiples
    • also in case of disability (illness), temporary unemployment due to force majeure, economic unemployment for white-collar workers and preventive removal from work before the effective date of delivery…
  • Extended maternity rest
    • Each day the child stays in neonatology or N* from day 8 after birth
    • Maximum of 24 weeks

Birth leave (~ paternity leave) 

  • 20 days
  • To be taken up within 4 months of birth
  • Can be taken in a continuous period of recording or with single days
  • First 3 days reimbursement by employer; from 4th day reimbursement by mutual insurance company
  • Only right provided marriage or recognition of child

Other leave systems for employees

  • Parental leave
    • Recording from birth to 12 years of age
    • Full-time (4m), part-time (8m), 1/5 (20m) or 1/10 (40m)
    • Disbursed by the state employment service
  • Lactation leave/lactation breaks
    • Prophylactic leave: paid (not for everyone)
    • Individually granted breastfeeding leave: often unpaid (for all)
    • Breastfeeding breaks: payment through mutual insurance company

Independent status mom

  • Maternity rest
    • 12 weeks (13 weeks for twins)
    • 3 weeks mandatory to take of which 1 week before the presumed delivery date all activities must be completely stopped.
    • Other 9 weeks : choice whether to take it + choice to take part-time (18w part-time).
  • Extension of maternity rest also possible.
  • For further administrative items and information: contact social insurance fund and/or mutual insurance company.

Independent status co-parent

  • Entitled to 20 full days or 40 half days.
  • To be taken within a period of 4 months after birth.
  • Apply through the social insurance fund. They also do the disbursement.

Recognition and declaration

Recognition

  • For unmarried persons only.
  • Best before delivery, but can also be done at birth registration (or even later).
  • Before childbirth :
    • Together to city/municipality where you live.
    • Bring ID + attestation of pregnancy.
  • After childbirth:
    • Within 15 days of delivery.
    • Together to city/municipality you gave birth to.
    • Identity certificates + proof of birth.

Birth declaration

  • Within 15 days of birth.
  • In city/municipality where you deliver.
  • What documents will you receive?
    • Birth certificates.
    • Attestation for mutuality.
    • Attestation of vaccination against poliomyelitis : to be completed once your child is fully vaccinated (around the age of 15 months) and to be returned no later than when the child is 18 months old.

Insurance en hospitalization

  • Price depends on the hospital, room selection, physician, delivery, insurance,…
  • Vaginal delivery
    • estimate normally insured
      • shared room: ±€300
      • private room: ±€2000
  • Cesarean section (sectio)
    • estimate normally insured
      • shared room: ±€300
      • private room: ±€2500
  • Health insurance pays much of the cost
  • Hospitalization insurance?
    • Important difference between insurance with mutual insurance company or insurance with private insurance company
    • Difference from policy to policy so best to check beforehand!

Help and care at home

Prenatal care

  • Medical follow-up by midwife/general practitioner in addition to follow-up by gynecologist
  • Prenatal contact through Kind en Gezin or ONE
  • Maternity care (= family and maternity care)
    • Price depends on joint taxable income.
    • Some health insurance companies provide reimbursement.
    • Some hospitalization insurance policies intervene in whole or in part.
    • Can start from 1 month before the presumed date of delivery until 2 months after delivery.
    • Please apply on time (no later than 30 weeks).

Postnatal care

  • Medical follow-up care by midwife:
    • Mandatory first 5 days + recommended afterwards
    • Reimbursed by health insurance fund (first 5 days + 6 optional home visits. Longer possible with doctor’s prescription or in case of medical complications)
    • Only travel expenses midwife to pay + one-time start-up cost
    • www.vroedvrouwen.be or www.sage-femme.be
  • Postnatal contact by Kind en Gezin or ONE
  • Maternity care (= family and maternity care)
    • See above