Antwerp OCMW Introduces Group Sessions as 3,200+ Seek Welfare Benefits
More than 3,200 residents of Antwerp have applied for welfare benefits (leefloon) in recent months, prompting the city’s Public Centre for Social Welfare (OCMW) to pilot a new group session model to manage the unprecedented influx. Approximately 1,750 applicants are currently receiving the benefit, according to Het Laatste Nieuws.
Background: A Policy-Driven Surge
The sharp increase in leefloon applications is a direct consequence of the Belgian federal government’s 2025 decision to limit regular unemployment benefits to a maximum of two years. The new rules took effect in January 2026, and as benefit cut-offs have rolled out in successive waves, responsibility has shifted from the federal unemployment system to local OCMWs.
The Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities (VVSG) has been closely tracking the impact, reporting that 4 out of 10 unemployed people from the third wave have applied for leefloon. Multiple waves of benefit cut-offs — beginning in early 2026 and continuing through the spring — have created compounding pressure on social services across Flanders.
How the Group Sessions Work
In response, the Antwerp OCMW launched a pilot project replacing some individual intake interviews with group sessions. Groups of up to 15 applicants are guided by three social workers who help them complete the initial paperwork, including data on income, family situation, property, and financial capacity. All information is later individually verified and followed up by the OCMW.
“It’s not about less guidance, it’s about a different way of working,” said Nathalie van Baren (N-VA), Antwerp Alderman for Social Affairs. “Our staff remain present to support people. By actively involving applicants in their file preparation, we gain time without sacrificing quality or control.”
Early Results and Employment Outcomes
The results so far have been promising. Of the 600 people invited to group sessions, 514 have been helped toward employment through the VDAB (Flemish employment service) or Article 60 government work experience programs. VRT NWS reports that over 130 people have found jobs through the sessions.
Van Baren emphasized the OCMW’s commitment to rapid re-employment: “We can offer people with a leefloon a job within 30 days. There are other OCMWs that can’t even respond to a help request within those 30 days.”
Broader Measures and Infrastructure
Beyond the group sessions, Antwerp has taken several other steps to manage the increased demand. A dedicated OCMW office was opened in the Deurne district specifically to handle the wave of applicants, and the city launched the Coevelt specialized dispatch center to help long-term unemployed individuals find jobs.
Van Baren framed the approach as part of a broader philosophy: “Solidarity also means that we keep our services strong and accessible in the long term. That requires not only resources, but also the willingness to organize smarter and more efficiently.”
Analysis: A Shift in Welfare Responsibility
This story reflects a significant transfer of social welfare responsibility from the federal to the local level in Belgium. The reform is creating strain on OCMW resources across Flanders, not just in Antwerp. The VVSG has been actively calling for additional government support and structural reforms to the Flemish labor market policy to help local centers cope.
Antwerp’s proactive approach — combining group intake sessions, a dedicated office, specialized dispatch, and a 30-day job guarantee — sets a benchmark that other municipalities may look to emulate. However, questions remain about whether the model can be sustained as more waves of applicants arrive and whether the federal government will provide additional compensation to OCMWs for their increased workload.
What’s Next
The group session pilot is still in its early stages, and it remains to be seen whether it will be expanded to regular operations. As the fourth wave of benefit cut-offs begins to emerge in June 2026, the pressure on OCMWs across Flanders is expected to continue mounting. The coming months will test whether innovative local solutions can keep pace with the consequences of federal policy decisions.