Actiris has released the findings of its second monitoring report on federal unemployment reforms. This analysis examines the effects of the time-limited unemployment benefits implemented in the first half of 2026, as well as the initial consequences of activating individuals who are long-term unable to work.
End of Benefit Rights: A Mass Transition to Social Services and Health Insurance. The monitoring report analyzes the situation of 15,500 job seekers affected by the first two waves (over 20 years and over 8 years of unemployment) of benefit entitlement loss during the first quarter of 2026. In the short term, losing benefits primarily leads to a shift to other forms of social protection.
Massive reliance on the minimum living wage: Nearly one in two unemployed individuals (47.6%) from the first quarter of 2026 exclusion waves received support from a social welfare center (OCMW) within three months of losing their benefits. Transition to sickness and disability insurance: 8.9% (1,381 individuals) of the affected job seekers moved to the sickness and disability insurance system (RIZIV). Access to employment remains limited: 12.6% of excluded individuals found work within three months (regardless of contract duration). This figure drops to 7.1% for contracts of 28 days or longer. It is important to note that the employment rate for these first two waves may be influenced by the profile of the job seekers involved, who are very distant from the labor market (over 8 years without work).
The figures presented are a preliminary snapshot and may evolve, as some individuals may have joined the analyzed categories only after June 30, 2026. Furthermore, the reform limiting unemployment benefits over time is still in its rollout phase.
Reactivation of individuals losing benefit rights and activation of the long-term sick. Actiris services and its partners (Local Missions and OCMWs) have fully mobilized in response to this situation. Since October 2025, 4,647 individuals who lost their benefit rights have started an support program with Actiris or one of its partners, with over half (52.1%) being supported in the three months before their benefits officially ended. Additionally, 1,753 job seekers participated in specific information sessions, and 3,502 individuals received a personalized information interview. The same person could benefit from one or more of these services.
For the activation of the long-term sick, 3,542 social insurance beneficiaries are registered with Actiris, including 1,349 since January 1, 2026. Moreover, 1,136 social insurance beneficiaries have already utilized at least one specific support action since January.
Diverse profiles and heavily affected communes. By the end of the first half of 2026, a total of 27,500 Brussels job seekers had lost their right to unemployment or insertion benefits. The profile of excluded individuals indicates high vulnerability: 63.6% have a low level of education, and 39.1% are 50 years or older. The transition to OCMWs affects the entire region. Proportionally, the communes of Etterbeek (57.8%), Auderghem (53.6%), Brussels City (52.9%), and Saint-Gilles (51.7%) have the highest share of individuals who lost their benefit rights and are now supported by an OCMW.
Outlook and indicators to monitor. Actiris estimates that approximately 10,000 additional job seekers will lose their benefit rights between July 2026 and June 2027. While the transition to social safety nets is already measurable, indicators regarding actual access to employment and enrollment in training are not yet fully available. Future editions of the monitoring will closely track the evolution of these crucial indicators to evaluate the long-term effects of the reform.
