From January 1, 2025, the legal retirement age in Belgium will increase from 65 to 66 years, marking a key step in the pension reform initiated in 2015. Adjustments in the conditions of access to the minimum pension and incentives financial resources to prolong professional activity complete this major transformation.
As of January 1, 2025, the legal retirement age will increase to 66 years for Belgian workers, before a further increase to 67 years planned in 2030. This reform, decided in 2015 under the government of Charles Michel, maintains its course despite lively debates about its social impact. Workers born after January 1, 1960 will be the first affected by this measure. However, schemes such as early retirement remain accessible to people who have accumulated 42 years of career before age 65.
Adjusted conditions for the minimum pension
Access to the minimum pension will now be subject to a new requirement: having worked at least 5,000 actual days for a full-time employee, or around a third of a full career. Adapted thresholds exist for part-time workers, civil servants and the self-employed, reinforcing fairness between statuses. Specific periods, such as maternity leave or temporary unemployment, will be counted in the effective days, a key point to protect split careers, particularly those of women.
The pension bonus: a lever to extend activity
Introduced in July 2024, the pension bonus aims to encourage workers of retirement age to extend their careers. For each additional year, a bonus of up to 943.75 euros per month is granted from the third year.
In total, this mechanism can bring in up to 22,650 euros net for three additional years of work. Accessible to employees, self-employed people and civil servants, this system constitutes a significant financial incentive to meet the challenge of demographic aging.
A progressive adjustment for survivor’s pensions
Furthermore, in 2025, the minimum age to benefit from a survivor’s pension will be raised from 49 years and 6 months to 50 years. This change, although progressive, is part of a logic of harmonization of eligibility criteria.
Sami Nemli With Agency / ECO Inspirations
