A study by the University of Antwerp has found that the difference between net monthly income from a job and unemployment benefit is more than 500 euro. The results of the study form the basis of articles in the dallies ‘Het Nieuwsblad’ and ‘Gazet van Antwerpen’.
It pays to work: those in work have more than 500 euro/month more in their pockets than those on the dole
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The income differential between those in work and those on unemployment benefit is one of the major themes of the current election campaign.The Flemish nationalist party N-VA, the Flemish liberal party Open VLD and the Flemish socialist party Vooruit have long been calling for the difference in net income between those in work and those that are out of work to always be greater than 500 euro. The issue has been a hot topic during the current campaign. Now the a study reveals that, in most instance, this is actually already the case.
Professor Ive Marx and researchers from Antwerp University's Centre for Social Policy state that it is always worth going to work. However, they also emphasise that unemployed people that return to work in jobs that are half-time or less, have slightly less net income when they return to work. This also applies to workers who have children, because social benefits are higher for unemployed people with children. The unemployed also enjoy benefits such as a social tariff for electricity and cheaper bus travel.