Care budget for elderly people with care needs
Are you 66 years or older, in need of assistance and do you have a limited income?
Then you can apply for a care budget for elderly people with care needs. CM-Zorgkas or the Social Work Department will help you with this application.
How much is this healthcare budget?
That depends on your family income and the care you need . Even if you stay in a residential care center , this amount depends on your family income.
More information and the specific amounts can be found on the Flemish social protection website.
Change in your situation?
You must report changes in your situation, for example regarding income or self-reliance, within three months via your online file.
The sale or donation of property (immovable property such as a house, building land, pasture... or movable property such as shares, savings, investments...) is also a change in your income and must therefore be reported immediately to your zorgkas.
Were you already receiving a care budget for elderly people with care needs on March 1, 2026, and do you wish to report a change in your self-reliance? For the time being, this is not possible due to the transition to a new method for measuring self-reliance. The Flemish Government will decide later when this will be possible. In the meantime, you will continue to receive the current amount of your care budget.
How do you apply?
Make the online application
- Request it online . This step-by-step plan will guide you in this.
- For help with the application, you can contact CM-Zorgkas , the Social Work Department , your city or municipality, or the OCMW.
CM-Zorgkas will evaluate your application
CM-Zorgkas will evaluate your application and request additional information if necessary.
Assessment of self-reliance
Your level of self-reliance is determined based on the BelRAI Screener. This is a measurement tool that maps your care needs in daily life.
If you do not have a valid BelRAI Screener, an assessor will visit you after the application for the care budget. The Social Work department of CM is recognized as an assessor. An assessor uses the BelRAI Screener to assess your care needs.
Do you reside in a residential care center? In that case, no BelRAI Screener will be administered.
You will receive the decision
After three or four months, CM-Zorgkas will give you the decision . If the application is approved, you are entitled to this healthcare budget from the month following your application. The first payment will be made in the month after the decision.
You will receive the payout
CM-Zorgkas submits the payment order on the 24th of the month. Depending on your bank, the amount will be in your account after one or two working days.
What are the conditions?
There are some conditions attached to this healthcare budget. They have to do with your age, self-reliance and income.
- You are at least 66 years old.
- Your reduced self-reliance was determined using the BelRAI Screener. Depending on your self-reliance, you are assigned a category of 0 to 5 for the calculation of this care budget. Read more about how your self-reliance is assessed for this care budget.
- Are you staying in a residential care center ? You will then be assigned category 4 (or category 5) for the calculation of this healthcare budget.
- Your income and that of your family may not exceed certain limits.
- You are affiliated with CM-Zorgkas.