From the Springboard Plan and JobYourself to payrolling structures, several schemes in the Brussels Region enable job seekers to test out a business activity while keeping their unemployment benefits. As from January 2026, unemployment benefits will be limited to two years, which will have an impact on these schemes. Here's a brief overview of the impact this is expected to have on each scheme.
1. The Self-employed Springboard Plan
The Self-employed Springboard Plan enables job seekers receiving benefits to start a self-employed business while retaining their benefits for 12 months.
With this plan, you will have self-employed status on a secondary basis, in addition to your main status as a job seeker receiving benefits.
Impact of the reform
To be eligible for this plan, you must be a job seeker receiving benefits. Therefore, you cannot access the Springboard Plan:
- if you are no longer entitled to unemployment benefits;
- or if your entitlement ends during the course of the plan, you immediately lose this benefit.
⚠️ Attention : if, after you are no longer entitled to unemployment benefits, you do not take the necessary steps to terminate your self-employed status on a secondary basis, you will be reclassified as self-employed on a primary basis, which means significantly higher minimum quarterly Social Security contributions.
2. The JobYourself activity cooperative
Thanks to its VAT number, the JobYourself activity cooperative lets you test your business without having to set up as self-employed.
For up to 18 months, you can send invoices, develop your project, and keep your replacement benefits (unemployment, PCSW, etc.). During this period, you can release funds as needed.
Impact of the reform
If you lose your right to unemployment benefits during your test period, there are several possible scenarios:
- You go to the PCSW ➜ If the PCSW agrees to your activity, you can continue with the test phase as normal.
- You no longer have any benefits ➜ You can continue the test without any benefits, but you can pay yourself an income based on the profit generated by your activity.
- You leave the cooperative ➜ You can recover the profits generated up to that point.
📌 Important: Being in the test phase of the JobYourself scheme does not protect you from losing your unemployment benefits. Business cooperatives are not included in the derogations for training courses or professions with a labour shortage.
3. Side activity while receiving unemployment benefits
The ONEM (National Employment Office) allows jobseekers who receive unemployment benefits to carry out a side activity as a self-employed person in a secondary occupation, provided that they were already carrying out this side activity while working as an employee for at least three months before applying for unemployment benefits.
Impact of the reform
The impact of the reform is the same as for the Tremplin scheme: to be allowed to carry out this side activity, you must hold the status of an unemployed jobseeker receiving benefits. Consequently, this side activity will no longer be possible if you lose entitlement to unemployment benefits.
⚠️ Attention: if, once excluded from unemployment benefits, you do not take the necessary steps to end your status as a self-employed person in a secondary occupation, you will be reclassified as a full-time self-employed worker — which entails significantly higher minimum quarterly social security contributions.
4. Payrolling structures (Smart, DiES, Tentoo, Amplo, etc.)
These structures enable you to work as an employee or active partner on your own projects without having to become self-employed.
Payrolling structures act as intermediaries between you and your customers. To do this, they offer you a contract (fixed-term or permanent under certain conditions) under which you can provide a service or sell your products within a legal framework. If you're unemployed, you can keep your benefits for the days you don't work.
Impact of the reform
As access to these structures is not dependent on being entitled to unemployment benefits, you can continue to use them to invoice your customers. However, if you are receiving unemployment benefits, you will no longer be able to receive these on days when you are not working for your business. If you are eligible for the social integration income from the PCSW, you will need to check whether you can continue to work and what the limitations are.
Go ahead and launch that business, but be prepared!
With the prospect of losing their benefits looming, an increasing number of people are considering becoming entrepreneurs. This can be a viable option, provided you are well prepared and don't jump in blindly.
Setting up a business requires:
- a serious market analysis,
- a good understanding of taxes,
- a good knowledge of administrative procedures,
- a clear assessment of the financial risks associated with being self-employed,
- and a realistic vision of the project's profitability.
If you rush in unprepared, you risk finding yourself in a situation that's even more insecure.
Need support? There is help out there
Fortunately, several organisations in the Brussels Region can assist you in preparing and launching your entrepreneurial project.
The hub.info service is your gateway to all this support.
- Call us on 1819, Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm (except Tuesdays, 11am to 1pm and 4pm to 6pm)
- Come along to our drop-in sessions, no appointment necessary, Monday to Wednesday, 2pm to 5pm
- Take part in our monthly information sessions on "Setting up a business in Brussels"
In summary
Scheme |
Access conditions |
Impact if no longer receiving benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Self-employed Springboard Plan | Be receiving unemployment benefits | Plan inaccessible or interrupted |
| JobYourself | Be a job seeker or PCSW beneficiary | Test possible with income from your business |
| Payrolling structures | Have an activity you can invoice | Still accessible, but no unemployment benefits for days not worked |
To find out more about the rules regarding exclusion from unemployment benefits, please visit the ONEM website