VDAB / Actiris / Le Forem letter explained in English
Job centre. The regional job service: VDAB in Flanders, Actiris in Brussels, Le Forem in Wallonia. It helps you find work and checks your job search.
Letters you may get
- Uitnodiging / convocation — an appointment with your job counsellor
- Evaluatie van je zoekgedrag / évaluation de votre recherche active d’emploi — a check of your job search
- Beslissing / décision — after a check, possibly a sanction on your benefits
What to do
- Go to every appointment, or tell them before if you can’t come and why. Missing it can cut your unemployment benefits.
- Keep proof of your job applications — emails, letters and answers.
- 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.
Questions
What is the VDAB / Actiris / Le Forem?
Job centre. The regional job service: VDAB in Flanders, Actiris in Brussels, Le Forem in Wallonia. It helps you find work and checks your job search.
How long do I have to answer a letter from the VDAB / Actiris / Le Forem?
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 VDAB / Actiris / Le Forem 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 · Ziekenfonds / Mutualité · Groeipakket / Allocations familiales · Dienst Vreemdelingenzaken / Office des Étrangers