> Assistance to persons

related but distinct subjects :
disabled persons
social security
senior citizens

 

social assistance - family policy

Social assistance

Social assistance is the responsibility of the Communities, where the French Community has transferred responsibility for the French linguistic region to the Walloon Region.

The Walloon Region, for the French linguistic region, and the German-speaking Community, for the German linguistic region, are responsible for social assistance.

Each commune is obliged to set up a CPAS (Public Centre for Social Action). The Walloon Region has produced the basic legislation for the CPAS for the French linguistic region, and exercises control over them. The German-speaking Community has developed the basic statute* for the CPAS of the German linguistic region, and exercises control over them. Other forms of social assistance are governed by Acts of the Walloon Region* or the German-speaking Community.

However, important subjects are still the responsibility of the Federal Authority: certain basic rules on the CPAS and integration income (formerly called minimex), which is granted by the CPAS. This income is co-financed by the Federal Authority and the communes.

Certain communes and provinces also develop other initiatives in the field of social assistance.

Family policy

Family policy is the responsibility of the Communities, where the French Community has transferred responsibility for the French linguistic region to the Walloon Region.

The Walloon Region, for the French linguistic region, and the German-speaking Community, for the German-linguistic region, are responsible for family policy.

However, family policy is mainly conducted by specific bodies that are the responsibility of the Communities.

These bodies are:

-          For the French linguistic region: the ONE (Office of Childbirth and Children), which belongs to the French Community.

-          For the German linguistic region: the DKF (Child and Family Department), which belongs to the German-speaking Community.

The provinces and communes may play the role of organising authority.

legal basis :
Constitution, art. 128 et 130, art. 138
LSRI of 8/08/1980, art. 5, §1, alinea II
LRI of 31/12/1983, art. 4, §2
Decree FC of 19/07/1993, art. 3, alinea 7°