When are you entitled to this allowance as an employer?
You are entitled to this return-to-work allowance if you
- Hire an employee or unemployed person who has been incapacitated for at least one year (disabled) or allow them to return to work through a so-called progressive return to work. The employee must not start or resume work full-time.
- Allow that employee to return to work progressively or allow them to resume adapted work after obtaining permission from the medical officer of the employee's health insurance fund.
- Keep the employee employed for at least three months
This measure applies to both employees who were already working for you at the start of their incapacity for work and to newly hired employees. In both cases, the incapacity for work must last at least one year. The return to work is therefore possible with the original employer as well as with a new employer.
The measure is compatible with the social security system for self-employed individuals. Thus, if you hire a self-employed person who is incapacitated as an employee, you are also entitled to this allowance provided that the other conditions are met.
Note: As an employer, you are only entitled to this allowance if it concerns a new return to work starting from April 1, 2023. An extension after April 1, 2023, of an already permitted return to work before April 1, 2023, is not eligible for the allowance.
What is “adapted work” or “progressive return to work”?
If an employee wishes to partially return to work after a period of incapacity for work, they can either temporarily work less or temporarily perform a different function. If your employee receives permission from the medical officer of the mutuality, they will also retain their benefits. These benefits will then be maintained for the days or parts of the day that they do not work.
More information about the progressive return to work, or a return through adapted work, can be found in our file.
Which labour contracts are eligible?
Does your employee meet the conditions? Then they must perform the work, permitted by the mutuality's doctor, for at least three months. For employers in the private sector, the following labour contracts are eligible:
- A permanent labour contract for an indefinite period
- A fixed-term labour contract that has a duration of at least three months at the start of the permitted work
- An agreement for alternating training that has a duration of at least three months at the start of the permitted work
Is every employment eligible for an allowance?
No, the draft royal decree excludes the following forms of employment:
- Employment in a company from PC 327 for sheltered workshops, social workplaces, and custom work companies
- Employment as a flexi-jobber
- Employment as a casual worker
- Employment that started before the beginning of the incapacity for work and for which the application of the RSZ law of June 27, 1969 is limited to the healthcare sector regarding mandatory health and disability insurance
- Employment as a volunteer firefighter, volunteer ambulance worker, or volunteer of civil protection
Where do you apply for the allowance?
You can apply for the allowance through the health insurance fund to which your employee is affiliated. This can be done no earlier than three months after employment.
You must submit the application electronically . You are entitled to only one allowance per employee.
The health insurance fund will pay the allowance no later than the end of the second calendar month following the calendar month in which you submitted the application.
If you apply for the allowance in October 2025, the health insurance fund must pay the allowance no later than December 31, 2025.
The final application date is two years after the third month of permitted work has been performed.
If you apply for the allowance for an employee who resumed work in October 2025, you must submit the application no later than December 31, 2027.
Submitting an application
You can do this via this link.
If you still prefer to submit the application on paper, you should send this application to:
National Intermutualistic College
Manhattan Center – 7th floor
Bolwerklaan 21 bus 7
1210 Sint-Joost-Ten-Node
Note! From January 1, 2026, you can no longer submit an application on paper.
Source
- Chapter 2 of Title 10 of the program law of December 22, 2023
- Royal decree of September 28, 2025, amending the royal decree of July 3, 1996, implementing the law on mandatory health care and benefits, coordinated on July 14, 1994, regarding the return-to-work allowance, BS October 9, 2025.