Belgium – Social research services – OPEN PROCEDURE VOOR STUDIE NAAR DE PERSONEN VAN WIE NA AFLOOP VAN HUN WERKLOOSHEIDSUITKERING GEEN SOCIO-ECONOMISCHE POSITIE MEER GEVONDEN WORDT

The time limitation of unemployment benefits leads, from 2026 onwards, to a significant number of people leaving the unemployment insurance scheme. For some of those affected, administrative data can establish their subsequent socio-economic situation: employment, other social security benefits, sickness/disability, social assistance via the CPAS or disability allowance. For another group, the situation after the end of entitlement remains unclear. These people disappear from the usual administrative monitoring. The absence of a visible administrative pathway does not necessarily mean that these people are without means of subsistence. Possible explanations include, among others, own or household professional income, assets or savings, training or support, departure abroad, a request refused by the CPAS, non-take-up of entitlements or income/activities that cannot be identified from the available sources. The fact that a person no longer appears in the classic streams of benefits does not necessarily mean that they are without means of subsistence. Possible explanations include, among others: - the person's own professional income; - income from other household members excluding entitlement to integration income; - temporary or uncertain income; - possession of savings, real estate or other means of subsistence; - departure abroad; - lack of a fixed residence; - a request refused by a CPAS; - or failure to apply for social rights to which the person might potentially be entitled. The study must examine the extent, profile, actual means of subsistence, social impact and time evolution of this group. Particular attention is paid to people who approach a CPAS without receiving an integration income, to a possible delayed entry into social assistance and to people who remain invisible even after additional data coupling and fieldwork. The study does not constitute a general causal evaluation of the reform, but includes, where possible, a limited comparison of relevant social indicators before and after the loss of benefits. The study must ultimately answer four questions: 1. Who disappears from the known administrative schemes after the end of unemployment benefits? 2. Why are these people no longer visible? 3. What means of subsistence do they actually have? 4. Is this disappearance temporary, or does a group remain, in the longer term, outside of employment, social security and social integration? The combination of administrative data coupling, a targeted survey and longitudinal follow-up should make it possible to answer these questions reliably.