Belgium's parliament has given final approval to the Pensions Act, marking a significant milestone in the country's pension reform programme.

The legislation was definitively approved on 28 May 2026 and is now awaiting publication in the Belgian Official Gazette, according to Belgium's Federal Pension Service (SFPD).

The reforms include the introduction of a bonus-malus mechanism designed to encourage longer working lives.

Under the new system, individuals who continue working beyond the point at which they become eligible to retire may receive a pension bonus. In contrast, those who retire earlier without meeting certain career requirements could face a reduction in benefits.

The package also contains measures aimed at strengthening the link between years worked and pension accrual, as well as further harmonising pension rules across employees, self-employed workers and civil servants.

According to the SFPD, the reforms form part of the federal government's 2025-2029 pension reform programme. While some provisions still require implementation measures, the majority of the changes are expected to take effect from 2027.

The SFPD has published further information on how the reforms will affect retirement conditions, pension calculations and the new pension bonus system.

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