Pascal Smet: ‘Saving of 8 million euros per year’
Vooruit.brussels This is because child benefits in Brussels are paid out by a single government agency, just like in Flanders, according to Pascal Smet, faction leader in the Brussels Parliament. Currently, this is still handled by one public and three private actors. “This is a matter of good governance: bringing child benefits under a single government agency is not only clearer for parents, but it also yields a nice, much-needed saving,” says Smet.
Last Friday, the Flemish government, at the suggestion of Welfare Minister Caroline Gennez (Vooruit), decided that the payment of child benefits will be carried out by a single public body in the future. Currently, there are still five in Flanders: four private entities and one public payment institution. The situation in Brussels is also comparable. Following a recent merger, there are currently three private and one public entity active in paying child benefits. Thus, four different players all with the same objective.
“The Brussels government's spending review on child benefit did, however, propose that all future payments be made by the public body Famiris., says Pascal Smet, group leader of Vooruit.brussels in the Brussels Parliament. Depending on the chosen method, this could result in annual savings of more than 8 million euros. So, one payer and one point of contact from the government.“
Matters of good governance
According to Smet, Brussels can make good use of this reform, given the region's financial and institutional situation:
“This is simply a matter of good governance. Placing child benefit under a single government institution would not only be clearer for parents, as they would only need to contact one institution, but it would also yield a significant and, above all, much-needed saving. Given the precarious financial situation of the Brussels-Capital Region, this saving is more than welcome.
Smet is therefore calling on the competent ministers, Dirk De Smedt (Anders) and Bernard Clerfayt (Défi), not to delay. He also emphasises that during previous reforms of child benefit, he already advocated for an even simpler, more centralised system. “Concrete plans were already on the table at the time. Hopefully, minds are now mature enough to show decisive action and opt for greater efficiency,” Smet concludes.