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Official information and services: belgium.be Belgian Federal Public Services

Special schemes

You are a professional journalist, member of a civilian aircrew, mariner or miner? In that case, special rules may apply to the calculation of your pension. However, these special schemes, with the exception of the scheme for professional journalists, are being phased out.

You are a:

Professional journalists

Your pension as a professional journalist is calculated on the basis of your limited total gross salary (gross real wages, fictitious salary and lump sums). This limited total salary is raised by 33,33 %.

No additional wage ceiling is applied to the result of this raised total salary.

Professional journalists

David, who was born on 26 June 1960, will retire on 01.07.2025. His career consists of:

  • from 1983 until 1988: employee with an advertising agency for 6 years
  • from 1989: professional journalist for 36 years

In total, he has 42 career years.

For the calculation of his pension, the 6 years as an employee are calculated in accordance with the regular employee scheme.

The 36 years as a professional journalist are calculated in accordance with the employee scheme, but the limited total gross salary will be raised by 33.33 %

The steps for the calculation of his pension as a professional journalist:
For every year of his career, a pension yield is calculated on the basis of his capacity as a professional journalist:

  • Step 1: the actual salary, fictitious salary and lump sums are added up on an annual basis (= the total salary).
  • Step 2: the total salary on a yearly basis is compared to the wage limit; if the total salary on a yearly basis exceeds the wage limit, the total salary is restricted to this wage limit.
  • Step 3: the limited total salary is multiplied by 1,3333 to obtain the total salary as a professional journalist.
  • Step 4: the total salary is revalued on an annual basis.
  • Step 5: the total salary is divided by 45 (the normal career duration as an employee).
  • Step 6: the result is multiplied by 60 %.

The pension yields of all years are added up to obtain the annual pension amount.

Step 1:
David worked for an entire year: 312 worked days.
The total wages amount to 35 026,8 euros.

Step 2:
The wage limit for 1994 amounts to 32 859,53 euros.
As the total salary exceeds the limit, the amount is reduced to the wage limit: 32 859,53 euros.

Step 3:
Subsequently, this amount is multiplied by 1,3333 to obtain the total salary as a professional journalist:
32 859,53 x 1,3333 = 43 811,6113 euros

Steps 4 - 5 - 6:
Calculation of the pension on the basis of the total salary as a professional journalist for the year 1994:
(43 811,6113 x 1,818182 / 45) x 60 % = 1 062,0998 euros

Member of a civilian aircrew

The more advantageous calculation of your civilian aircrew pension depends on:

  1. your age on 31 December 2011 (at least 55 years old)
    and
  2. your career as a member of a civilian aircrew.

You were born before 01.01.1957

We do not calculate your career length on the basis of a fraction of 45ths as is the case for regular employees but:

  • on the basis of a fraction of 30ths if you prove 20 years of normal and principal employment (as a pilot crew member);
    or
  • on the basis of a fraction of 34ths if you prove 23 years of normal and principal employment (as a pilot and cabin crew member).

We also consider the employment as an aircrew member as normal and principal if it contains per calendar year:

  • before 01.01.2012: 185 days of at least 4 hours or 150 flight hours;
  • from 01.01.2012, at least 104 full-time days of at least 49 flight minutes a day.

The wage limit is also more advantageous than the one for regular employees.

These special rules apply to your entire career as an aircrew member, including the years you performed from 01.01.2012 onwards.

You were born on or after 01.01.1957

The special rules exclusively apply to the calculation of your pension for your years of normal and principal employment before 01.01.2012.

For the years from 01.01.2012, we apply the regular rules: the calculation at 45ths and the wage limit of a regular employee.

Mariners

We can calculate the pension for your performances as a mariner in a more advantageous manner. To do so, we take a shorter career into account:

  • in 40ths;
    or
  • in 14ths if you prove at least 5 040 vessel days (which corresponds to 168 months x 30 days) under Belgian or Luxembourg flag while registered with the Pool of Seafarers.

For the calculation of your pension, we apply the wage limit for regular employees.

You were born before 01.01.1957

We calculate the pension for your performances as a mariner on the basis of:

  • 40ths
    or
  • 14ths if you prove 5,040 vessel days during the course of your entire career.

Your performances as regular employee, however, are always calculated on the basis of 45ths.

You were born on or after 01.01.1957

We calculate the pension for your performances as a mariner on the basis of:

  • 40ths for your performances as a mariner before 01.01.2012;
  • 45ths for your performances as a mariner from 01.01.2012;
  • 14ths if you prove:
    • at least 2 520 vessel days on 31.12.2011,
      and
    • at least 5 040 vessel days during the course of your entire career.

Miners

We can calculate your miner's pension, in certain cases, in a more advantageous manner depending on:

  1. your age;
    and
  2. your career as a miner.

For the calculation of your pension, we apply the wage limit for regular employees.

In addition, you may receive:

When am I entitled to the more advantageous calculation of my miner's pension?

You were born before 01.01.1957

Your pension can be calculated on the basis of 30ths if you prove at least 20 years of normal and principal employment as a miner.

You were born on or after 01.01.1957

For your employment as a miner before 01.01.2012, your pension can also be calculated on the basis of 30ths if you prove a normal and principal employment of at least 20 years before 01.01.2012.

Your employment as a miner from 01.01.2012 is calculated according to the rules for regular employees, on the basis of 45ths.

We consider the employment as a (underground or surface) miner to be normal and principal if it amounts to at least 104 full-time days per calendar year (if your pension took effect from 01.01.2005).
 

When am I entitled to the extra allowance as a miner?

Your miner's pension can be raised with an extra allowance if you prove at least 25 years of normal and principal employment as an underground miner. You should meet this condition:

  • on the original start date of your pension, if you were born before 01.01.1957;
  • on the original start date of your pension, if you were born on or after 01.01.1957 and if your pension took effect before 01.01.2013;
  • at the latest on 31.12.2011 if you were born on or after 01.01.1957 and if your pension took effect from 01.01.2013.

The amount of the extra allowance corresponds to the difference between:

  • the amount of the fictitious pension, the so-called reference pension,
    and
  • the total amount of all statutory retirement pensions you receive.

The reference pension is equal to: the pension amount we calculate as though you had a normal and principal employment as an underground miner for 30 calendar years. We calculate the wages for the additional years on the basis of the indexed real wages, fictitious salary and lump sums of the next-to-last full year during which you worked as an underground miner.

For the statutory retirement pensions, we do not take pensions into account that are at the expense of schemes that fall within the scope of the European regulations concerning the coordination of the social security schemes.

You will only receive the extra allowance if you have applied for all of the pensions you are entitled to.

I have worked as an underground miner for at least 25 years or my career has been equated to this duration.

Should I have my file investigated?

The investigation of your file will only be useful if:

  • your retirement pension took effect after 1990 for the first time;
  • your survivor’s pension is based on a retirement pension that took effect after 1990;
  • your survivor’s pension is not based on a retirement pension that took effect and if your survivor's pension took effect after 1990.

An additional condition applies: you should prove at least 25, but fewer than 30, years of normal and principal employment as an underground miner.

Moreover, it is useless to request the revision of:

  • a retirement pension for a person who passed away before 1 January 2011;
  • a survivor's pension for a person who passed away before 1 January 2011.
     

Should I file an application to receive my raised extra allowance as a miner?

Overview of the possible situations
My situation Should I do something? Who receives the arrears?
I am entitled to a retirement pension and was alive on 29 June 2020. We will automatically revise your entitlement to a retirement pension.

You do not have to file an application yourself.

 You are alive: as the entitled person, you will receive the arrears.
If you were to pass away in the meantime:

We automatically pay the arrears to your spouse with whom you were cohabiting at the time of your passing.

If you were not cohabiting with your spouse, we pay the arrears in the following order:

  1. to your children with whom you were cohabiting at the time of your passing;
  2. to every person with whom you were cohabiting at the time of your passing;
  3. to the person who paid the nursing fees;
  4. to the person who paid the funerary costs.

We automatically pay your children who were cohabiting with you at the time of your passing.

Any other entitled parties who wish to claim the arrears should, however, file an application with the Federal Pensions Service by means of the form 'Model 83'.

These other entitled parties should file their application within six months of:

  • the day of your decease;
    or
  • the day on which we sent the decision, if the decision was sent after the decease.

(art. 72, 3rd sentence of the Royal Decree of 21 December 1967)
I am entitled to a survivor's pension and was alive on 29 June 2020. We will automatically revise your entitlement to a survivor's pension.

You do not have to file an application yourself.

 You are alive: as the entitled person, you will receive the arrears.
If you were to pass away in the meantime:

We pay the arrears in the following order:

  1. to your children with whom you were cohabiting at the time of your passing;
  2. to every person with whom you were cohabiting at the time of your passing;
  3. to the person who paid the nursing fees;
  4. to the person who paid the funerary costs.

We automatically pay your children who were cohabiting with you at the time of your passing.

Any other entitled parties who wish to claim the arrears should, however, file an application with the Federal Pensions Service by means of the form 'Model 83'.

These other entitled parties should file their application within six months of:

  • the day of your decease;
    or
  • the day on which we sent the decision, if the decision was sent after the decease.

(art. 72, 3rd sentence of the Royal Decree of 21 December 1967)
You are the spouse of an underground miner who was entitled to a retirement pension and who passed away before 29 June 2020

and

on 29 June 2020, you were receiving a survivor's pension on the basis of your late spouse's retirement pension.

 We will automatically revise the retirement pension (along with the survivor's pension you receive - see above).

You do not have to file an application yourself.

 You are alive: you will receive the arrears.
If you were to pass away in the meantime:

We pay the arrears in the following order:

  1. to your children with whom you were cohabiting at the time of your passing;
  2. to every person with whom you were cohabiting at the time of your passing;
  3. to the person who paid the nursing fees;
  4. to the person who paid the funerary costs.

We automatically pay your children who were cohabiting with you at the time of your passing.

Any other entitled parties who wish to claim the arrears should, however, file an application with the Federal Pensions Service by means of the form 'Model 83'.

These other entitled parties should file their application within six months of:

  • the day of your decease;
    or
  • the day on which we sent the decision, if the decision was sent after the decease.

(art. 72, 3rd sentence of the Royal Decree of 21 December 1967)
The underground miner was entitled to a retirement pension and passed away before 29 June 2020

and

on 29 June 2020, there was no spouse who was receiving a survivor's pension on the basis of the retirement pension of the deceased miner.

 The entitled parties should file an application. We pay the arrears in the following order to:
  1. the spouse with whom the miner who was entitled to a retirement pension was cohabiting at the time of his passing, but who does not receive a survivor's pension;
  2. the children with whom the miner who was entitled to a retirement pension was cohabiting at the time of his passing;
  3. every person with whom the miner who was entitled to a retirement pension was cohabiting at the time of his passing.

You are entitled to the arrears?

You should file your application with the Federal Pensions Service before 30.06.2021 (you have 12 months from 29 June 2020 onwards to file your application - article 5, 2nd sentence of the law of 15 June 2020).

To this end, you should use the form 'Model 83'.

Did you only pay the nursing fees or the funerary costs?

There is no point in filing an application.
The spouse of the deceased miner was entitled to a survivor's pension and passed away before 29 June 2020. The entitled parties should file an application. We pay the arrears in the following order to:
  1. the spouse with whom the person entitled to the survivor's pension was cohabiting at the time of decease;
  2. the children with whom the person entitled to the survivor's pension was cohabiting at the time of decease;
  3. every person with whom the person entitled to the survivor's pension was cohabiting at the time of decease;

You are entitled to the arrears?

You should file your application with the Federal Pensions Service before 30.06.2021 (you have 12 months from 29 June 2020 onwards to file your application - article 5, 2nd sentence of the law of 15 June 2020).

To this end, you should use the form 'Model 83'.

Did you only pay the nursing fees or the funerary costs?

There is no point in filing an application.

Am I entitled to my late spouse's extra allowance?

As the surviving spouse of an underground miner, you can receive the extra allowance of your late spouse if he was entitled to or already receiving this extra allowance.
 

When am I entitled to the heating benefit?

We can grant you a heating benefit in relation to the number of years - at most 30 - during which you worked as a miner, and if you find yourself in one of the following situations:

  • you receive a retirement pension and you had at least 20 years of normal and principal employment in a mine (at the surface or underground) in Belgium or in any other country of the European Economic Area;
    or
  • at the time you receive your retirement pension, you receive a disability pension paid by the NIHDI, to which you only are or could be entitled on the basis of your employment in a mine;
    or
  • you receive a retirement pension for a normal and principal employment of at least 25 years as an underground miner.
     

Which years are taken into account for the allocation of the heating benefit?

In principle, we only take the years in which you actually worked as an underground miner, which count towards the eligibility for your retirement pension, into account for the allocation of the heating benefit.

We can only take the years you performed as a surface miner into account for the calculation of the heating benefit from the age at which you are entitled to a pension as a surface miner.

Please note: if you were born on or after 01.01.1957, only your years as an underground miner until 31.12.2011 are taken into account.

Am I, as the surviving spouse, entitled to my late spouse's heating benefit?

As the surviving spouse of an underground miner, you can receive your late spouse's heating benefit if he was entitled to or already receiving this benefit. You are not automatically entitled to the maximum amount, except if your spouse was a disabled miner.

Am I, as de facto separated spouse or divorcee, entitled to a portion of my spouse's heating benefit?

If you and your spouse, who receives a heating benefit, are de facto separated, you can receive half of the heating benefit only if you are entitled to a portion of your spouse's retirement pension.

But if you have divorced, you are not entitled to the heating benefit of your former spouse.

How much is the heating benefit?

The heating benefit amounts to 104,70 euros a month (30/30) (from 01.09.2026 at the index figure 186,83).

Is there a connection between the extra allowance and the heating benefit?

Whether or not the extra allowance is granted on top of the miner's pension has no influence on the allocation of the heating benefit.

How is the heating benefit paid?

The heating benefit is paid at the same time as your pension every month and amounts to 1/12th of the annual amount to which you are entitled.

Please note: if you were to lose your pension entitlement, you will also lose your entitlement to the heating benefit.

The complete suspension of the payment of your pension during a set time, as a sanction resulting from the inspection of the allowed work, will also automatically lead to the suspension of your heating benefit for the same duration.

But the reduction of your pension amount because you have exceeded the allowed professional activity limit has no influence on the payment of your heating benefit.