Care budget for older people with care needs
People with a care need over the age of 66 may be entitled to a care budget for older people with care needs. The monthly allowance is determined based on their level of care needs and income.
What is this care budget?
The care budget for older people with care needs amounts to a maximum of €739 per month. The amount depends on the assessed level of care needs, household composition and income. It can be spent freely.
Who is entitled to the care budget?
The care budget is available to people aged 66 and over in Flanders who are affiliated with the Flemish Social Protection scheme, have a limited income and struggle with everyday tasks. You can read all the conditions here.
Not sure if you’re eligible? Our social workers will be happy to check for you.
Why a care budget?
Liliane receives a monthly care budget for older people with care needs and a care budget for people with high care needs through the Flemish Social Protection scheme. In this testimonial, she explains how the care budget makes a difference.
(This video is in Dutch)
Are you eligible?
Our social workers will be happy to determine whether you qualify for the care budget.
Apply for the care budget
You can apply for this care budget online. Need help? Helan will be happy to assist you.
Go to the e-ZBO application. You can complete your application online using your eID. Having trouble? Don’t hesitate to contact our social workers for support.
The impact of your health problems on your daily life is determined using the BelRAI Screener. With this assessment tool, a staff member from a home care service, a Public Social Welfare Centre (OCMW), or our Social Work Service evaluates your care needs.
If no correct assessment based on the BelRAI Screener is available, our Social Work Service will contact you.
Are you staying in a residential care center? Then you will automatically be assigned a care score of 4 or 5. No further assessment is required.
If you receive a positive decision, your first care budget will be paid from the month following your application.
Do you disagree with the decision? You can challenge it before the labour court. You can find out how to do this on the website of the Flemish Social Protection scheme.
Good to know
When determining the care budget, account is taken of pensions, income from work, sickness benefits, savings, investments and gifts.
This includes the income of you and your partner, meaning the person registered at the same address who is not a blood relative or relative by marriage in the first (child, parent, parent-in-law, …), second (brother, sister, grandparent, …) or third (uncle, aunt, …) degree.
Payment calendar
The day on which your care budget is paid depends on where you live: at home or in a residential care facility. The care budget is always paid around the 25th of the month.
Tip! Get an automatic notification when your healthcare budget has been paid into your account. Sign up for notifications via text message or email via My Helan.
Practical questions and answers
Since 1 March 2026, the impact of your health condition on your daily life is determined using the BelRAl Screener. This scientifically validated tool allows a member of staff from a family care service, a Public Social Welfare Centre (OCMW) or your health insurance fund’s social work department to determine your care needs.
If your income increases or decreases by at least 10%, you are required to report this within three months. You must also notify your care fund within three months if you donate or sell a property. You can do this by starting a revision yourself in the online e-ZBO application, or by informing your care fund. If you fail to notify your care fund, your care budget or part of it may have to be repaid.
If your health condition changes, you can request a revision of your file at any time via the online e-ZBO application. Alternatively, you can inform your care fund directly.
If you live in the Brussels-Capital Region, you cannot apply for a care budget for older people with care needs in Flanders. In that case, please contact Iriscare, the Allowance for Assistance to the Elderly (THAB) service, via www.myIriscare.brussels or call 0800 35 499.
A care budget for older people with care needs can be combined with a care budget for people with high care needs and with the care budget for people with a disability.
You cannot combine the care budget for older people with care needs with other benefits, such as the income replacement allowance (IVT) and the integration allowance (IT).
If you already receive another benefit at the time of your application that cannot be combined with the care budget for older people with care needs, the care fund will review with you which option is most advantageous for you.
If you live in Flanders and move to Brussels, you must submit an application for the allowance for assistance to the elderly to Iriscare within three months. You can submit your application in the month of your move.
If you live in Flanders and move to Wallonia, you must submit an application for the allowance for assistance to the elderly to the Walloon Société mutualiste régionale (SMR) within three months. Please contact Helan Care Fund for this.
The same applies in reverse. Do you live in Brussels or Wallonia, receive the allowance for assistance to the elderly and move to Flanders? In that case, you must apply for the care budget for older people with care needs within three months to avoid losing your allowance.
Is a partner, family member or neighbour helping you with your administration? Or do you have care needs and does an informal carer take care of everything for you? Make sure to register a contact person in your file, so we can easily reach them if we have any questions.
