Ask your local social welfare centre for help in Belgium

Run by your municipality, known as OCMW, CPAS or ÖSHZ

If you cannot pay for rent, food or medical care, the social welfare centre of the municipality where you live looks at your situation with a social worker and decides which help fits. That can be a monthly living income, help finding housing or paying for care, support with debts or with finding work. Your residence status and means are part of the assessment.

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How it works

Get social assistance

Find local help if you cannot cover rent, food or other basic costs.

If you cannot cover basic living costs such as rent, food or energy, your local social services can assess what help you are entitled to. Support can include a monthly allowance, emergency payments, help with debts or housing, and advice. You usually start with an intake appointment at the office that serves your address. Bring your ID, proof of address and information about your income, savings, rent and household. Each type of support has its own conditions, and the office decides after assessing your situation.

Also searched as

social assistancesocial welfaresocial servicesfinancial helpemergency financial helpminimum incomehelp paying rent

At a glance

Offices
106 offices in 30 cities
Book online
At 29 of 106 offices
Apply online
At 14 of 106 offices

Some centres ask you to start online or book ahead

Where to make a first request for help

You usually go to the centre of the municipality where you live. Larger cities have several service points, and each sets its own drop-in sessions, appointment rules and online options. The centre can help with a living allowance, medical costs or debt mediation, provided you live in Belgium legally and are in need.

See the centres

Related services

Other everyday services in Belgium

Proof of your registered address in Belgium

A paper or digital certificate showing where you are registered, with versions for address history or household. Find the municipal office that issues it.

80 offices · 31 cities

Digital ID and eID help

Reset an eID PIN, replace activation codes or set up a digital key for online services. Useful for residents, residence card holders and some non-residents.

77 offices · 30 cities

Applying for or renewing a Belgian ID card

The eID for teenagers and adults and the Kids-ID for children. See how applying works and find the municipal office that handles your card.

69 offices · 30 cities

Reporting a move within Belgium

For anyone who has moved house in Belgium. See who reports, what happens after the address check and which office handles it in your new town.

68 offices · 31 cities

Birth, marriage or death certificate in Belgium

Learn whether you need an extract or a full copy, who can request it and how to reach the civil registry office in your municipality.

66 offices · 31 cities

Applying for or renewing a Belgian passport

See who can apply, what is different for children and how to prepare, then find the municipal office that handles passports.

61 offices · 30 cities
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Other countries

The same task in other countries

Moving on, or comparing before you decide? See how this works elsewhere.

Where to next

Social welfare centres

Municipal service points where you can ask for social assistance, and whether they work with drop-in days, tickets, appointments or an online request.

OCMW and CPAS offices in Belgium

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