Oostende (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – OCMW Oostende introduces stricter rules for living wage eligibility, with faster assessments of work readiness and inclusion of family income in decisions.
For instance, applicants for a living wage will now have their willingness to work evaluated at the time of application rather than after. The computation will now consider family income rather than individual income.
“In this way, we want to stabilise the influx of people on living wages and reduce the administrative workload for social workers”,
says Alderman for Economy Charlotte Verkeyn (N-VA).
In specific terms, it will now be determined whether the applicant tries to find employment before the subsistence pay is given.
“That guideline has actually been applied for 17 years at the RVA to award support for unemployment benefits,”
says alderman Charlotte Verkeyn (N-VA).
“But that guideline was not the case at the OCMW in Ostend, in fact: we were one of the few in the region to apply the rule in this way.”
From now on, anyone wishing to qualify for a minimum income will need to demonstrate that they have already put in enough effort to find employment.
“Guidelines have been drawn up to investigate this willingness to work, which we are now going to apply,”
says Verkeyn.
“Before the intake phase takes place, it will be checked whether there are indeed any applications.”
Considering family income rather than individual income.
When determining a minimal income, the OCMW will now also consider the income per household.
“We will take into account the means of subsistence at the same address of the applicant,”
says Verkeyn.
“Figures show that for more than half of the living wages awarded, the family income is higher than what is considered a decent income,”
says Verkeyn.
“That is why the family situation will now be mapped out: who lives there and whether there is cost-sharing cohabitation.”
“Every now and then we will also review all the files. There needs to be a change in the way we handle the files. Support from the OCMW is not a win-for-life”,
it sounds.
With these measures, the city wants to stabilize the influx of people on social assistance and reduce the administrative workload for social workers.
“We are committed to fair assistance and social integration through job activation, in line with the law and with an eye for personal circumstances,”
says Verkeyn.
“Each request for assistance will still be examined individually, but within a clear objective framework. The OCMW software will also be adapted so that the calculation is done automatically.
This reduces the administrative burden for social workers,”
it said.
Approximately 1,300 residents of Ostend are now receiving social assistance. 1,371 social assistance grants were made last year. When it was discovered that 495 of them did not fit the requirements, their social assistance was terminated.
How will stricter assessment rules impact my family’s income evaluation?
The total income of all family members will be considered rather than just the income of a single applicant. This implies that a larger household income may lower or have an impact on the amount of assistance you are eligible for.
By taking family income into account, the evaluation seeks to more accurately determine who actually needs help, guaranteeing that lower-income families receive it.
Even if the applicant’s personal income is low, you might not be eligible or receive reduced benefits if your family’s income surpasses specific levels.
Evaluating family income and work readiness more quickly promotes a quicker transition into the workforce and may lessen long-term reliance on social services.
