What is the Return to Work Fund?
The Return to Work Fund, or ReAT Fund, was created within the INAMI Allowances Service on 1 April 2024. It aims to support the socio-professional reintegration of persons recognised as work incapacitated who are no longer employed or can no longer be employed by their employer.
In practice, the Fund allows the beneficiary to use an approved service provider to receive specialised and personalised guidance. This may include career guidance or coaching to help with returning to the labour market. The support is provided in the form of a voucher currently worth up to €1,800.
Who can currently benefit from the Return to Work Fund?
At present, there are two main situations that allow access to the Fund.
After termination for medical force majeure
Since 1 April 2024, a person recognised as work incapacitated whose contract is terminated at the employer’s initiative for medical force majeure may request support from the Fund. The request must be made within six months after the contract ends.
In this case, as an employer, you must:
- Inform INAMI about the contract termination
- Pay a contribution of €1,800 to the Return to Work Fund
- Inform your former worker about their right to guidance
After more than one year of work incapacity
From 1 April 2025, the Fund will also be available to salaried workers and unemployed persons who are in invalidity, meaning after more than one year of work incapacity. In this case, access to the Fund is not linked to contract termination for medical force majeure.
Therefore, your worker may benefit from guidance under these conditions even if their contract has not been terminated for medical force majeure.
What is expected to change?
The Bill of 8 October 2026 is part of the fourth wave of the federal Return to Work policy. It aims to speed up the reintegration of persons in incapacity and to improve the monitoring of long-term incapacities.
Two changes are especially important for the Return to Work Fund.
Access to the Fund from the seventh month of incapacity
Currently, except in the case of medical force majeure, the beneficiary must generally be in invalidity to request support from the Fund, which means after more than one year of incapacity.
The government wants to allow guidance much earlier. The goal is to open the Fund to persons recognised as incapacitated from the seventh month of primary incapacity, that is after at least six months of incapacity.
This change could allow guidance to start sooner towards another function, another employer, or possibly another sector.
The amount of €1,800 will be indexed
Currently, the Fund finances specialised guidance up to a maximum of €1,800.
The Bill of 8 October 2026 now provides to index this ceiling. The amount of €1,800 would be linked to the central index and would then change according to the legal indexing rules.
The adjustment would take place from the third month after the month when the index reaches the level justifying a change. The applicable amount would be determined based on the date of the decision granting the Fund’s support.
Therefore, the exact future amount cannot yet be given as a new fixed lump sum.
What impact for you as an employer?
The planned expansion of the Fund does not, at this stage, create a new general contribution for you. The mandatory contribution of €1,800 remains linked to the situation where you terminate the labour contract for medical force majeure.
However, the Fund could become a reintegration tool available earlier. If you have workers in long-term incapacity, it will be useful to include this option in the information you give them about existing schemes.
Entry into force?
As of 5 November 2026, the bill is still pending in the Chamber. It is therefore not yet a definitive law published in the Moniteur belge.
The extension of access and the indexing of the amount still need to be finalised by the announced implementing texts. The date of 1 February 2027 is presented as the planned date for these changes, but this depends on the adoption of the texts and their publication.
What does Securex do for you?
Securex is a recognised service provider within the framework of the Return to Work Fund. Our coaches can support beneficiaries in their professional reintegration, notably through a skills assessment, help with job search, or individual coaching tailored to their situation.
👉Discover our guidance within the framework of the Return to Work Fund.
Are you considering a contract termination for medical force majeure? Also consult our fact sheet.
For any further information or additional questions, do not hesitate to contact your Legal Advisor by e-mail at myHR@securex.be
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