Groeipakket / Allocations familiales letter explained in English
Child benefit office. Pays child benefit. In Flanders it is called Groeipakket, in Brussels Famiris, in Wallonia it is paid by the family allowance funds.
Letters you may get
- Beslissing / décision — what you get each month for your children
- Vraag om gegevens / demande d’informations — they need information or papers
- Terugvordering / récupération — they paid too much
What to do
- Tell your fund when your family situation changes, for example a move, a new partner or a child who starts working.
- If they ask for papers, send them by the date in the letter to avoid a pause in payments.
- Find the deadline. Look for “termijn”, “uiterlijk op”, “délai”, “au plus tard le”.
- Write the reference number from the letter on everything you send back, and keep copies.
- If you disagree with a decision, object in writing before the deadline (“bezwaarschrift”, “beroep”, “verzet”, “bezwaar”). See the template.
Words you may see
- Groeipakket
- Child benefit in Flanders.
- terugvordering
- Request to pay back money you got but weren’t entitled to.
- indu
- Money paid to you by mistake that they want back.
Questions
What is the Groeipakket / Allocations familiales?
Child benefit office. Pays child benefit. In Flanders it is called Groeipakket, in Brussels Famiris, in Wallonia it is paid by the family allowance funds.
How long do I have to answer a letter from the Groeipakket / Allocations familiales?
It depends on the letter. Look for words like “termijn”, “uiterlijk op”, “délai”, “au plus tard le” — they mark the deadline. In Belgium, a letter sent by post is usually treated as received on the third working day after the date it was sent. Many deadlines, for example 6 months to object to a tax bill, start from that day. To object, the letter usually names the way to do it (“bezwaarschrift”, “beroep”, “verzet”, “bezwaar”).
Can I read a Groeipakket / Allocations familiales letter in English?
Yes. Take a photo of the letter with Briefly. It explains the letter in plain English, finds the deadline and the amount, and gives you ready-made replies in Dutch or French. Your letter never leaves your device.
Other offices in Belgium
FOD Financiën / SPF Finances · Vlaamse Belastingdienst / Brussel Fiscaliteit / SPW Fiscalité · Gemeente / Commune · OCMW / CPAS · RVA / ONEM · VDAB / Actiris / Le Forem · Ziekenfonds / Mutualité · Dienst Vreemdelingenzaken / Office des Étrangers