legal and social conditions for asylum seekers and refugees in ...

SOCIAL CONDITIONS FOR REFUGEES
Introduction/legal basis
Housing
According to the Law on the Public Social Assistance Centres of 8 July 1976, Belgian nationals,
recognised refugees and stateless people are entitled to receive the basic social allowance from
the CPAS if they are in need of financial support.
As there are no specific provisions or programmes for the provision of housing to recognised
refugees, they must find housing by themselves. Several NGOs and the CPAS may provide
assistance in finding places to rent.
Integration programme
There are no special integration programmes for refugees.
Financial assistance
Work
Refugees over the age of 18 are entitled to the basic social benefit (“Minimex”) on the same
terms as Belgian nationals.
The monthly amount of the Minimex depends on the structure of the family. In 1999, the rates
were as follows:
Single person BEF 20,916 EUR 518
Couple BEF 27,888 EUR 691
First child BEF 4,084 EUR 101
Second child BEF 5,861 EUR 145
Third and any further child BEF 7,626 EUR 189
Refugees are also entitled to child benefit under the same conditions as nationals.
Refugees are allowed to work and do no longer need a work permit.
Language tuition
Different organisations provide language tuition in Dutch and French, but there are no special
programmes for refugees.
School attendance
Children of refugees have access to Belgian schools without any discrimination. They are
exempted from the registration fees which foreigners usually have to pay in order to follow
courses in Belgium.
The Belgian school system offers special reception classes for children who do not speak Dutch
or French. However, these classes are overloaded, particularly in big cities, and therefore subject
to long waiting lists.
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Belgium