Here in Belgium, there are various ways to extra earn cash to supplement your salary or to help pay for your studies. For example, you can look for a so-called “flexi-job” or start your own business and earn a second income being self-employed. Even if you are already retired or are receiving benefits you can, under certain conditions, still earn some extra cash to supplement your pension or benefit payments.
In VRT News’ podcast 'Money Time' the financial expert Chris Sugira and Charlotte Sieben from the VRT pop music station MNM answer questions about personal finance. In the latest edition of ‘Money Time’ they discussed the options for earning additional income.
Student jobs
Providing that they meet certain criteria, young people are able to take a student job from the age of 15. For students that already have a steady job there is no maximum age at which they can take a student job. They can carry on working as a student until 30 September in the year in which they graduate.
However, they are some professions from which students are excluded. "There are a few important restrictions. For example, working with toxic products is not allowed and other ‘unhealthy professions’ are also off-limits to students."
“In addition to this you are only allowed to work a maximum of 600 hours per year if you as a student and your employer wish to continue to benefit from the lower levels of social security contributions levied of student employment”, Chris Sugira said.
Furthermore, a student’s parents might also loose the right to receive child benefit if the student works for more than 600 hours a year.
Turning your hobby into your profession
If you already have a steady job but would like to earn some extra income, you can choose to become self-employed in what is known here as “a secondary occupation”. You are allowed to do this on condition that you are in the pay of an employer for the equivalent of at least 50% of what would be a full time job.
Those that have taken early retirement or are on unemployment benefit can work part-time for themselves, as can those on sickness or disability benefits.
Taxfree flexi-jobs
For those looking for a regular additional income, but not wishing to become self-employment, a so-called “flexi-job” could be the best option”.
"Flexi jobs are very interesting from a tax point of view, as you do not have to pay any social security contributions or tax on the income earned from them. Your gross pay is equal to what you are paid net. You are allowed to earn a maximum of 12,000 euro per annum from flexi-jobs. However, under certain conditions there are no restrictions on flexi-job income. Flexi jobs are available in various professions, such as catering, retail, hairdressing and even at garages. It is important to note that you cannot work both a regular and a flexi job with the same employer at the same time”, Chris Sugira told VRT News.
For those working as bicycle couriers or for food delivery services such as Deliveroo and Uber Eats there are different rules.
“This work is taxed at 20% tax rate applies and you can earn a maximum of 7,460 euro gross per year. You have a reduced tax rate but need to be careful to stay below the 7,460 euro”.
Voluntary work
You can also be paid “expenses” for doing voluntary work. “Provided that you meet certain conditions, you can get an expense allowance. Volunteers are allowed a maximum expense allowance of 41.48 euro per day that should not exceed a total of 1,659.29 euro per annum".