• In principle, anyone can submit a compensation claim, whether you are a civil servant, self-employed, employee, or unemployed. To have your application accepted, however, you must meet certain conditions.

  • In the case of mesothelioma, we always recommend submitting an application because the likelihood of recognition is high.

    For other asbestos-related diseases, the reasoning is reversed: unless there was clear (occupational) asbestos exposure in the past, the chances of a positive response to the application are low. As a rule of thumb, employees in Belgium have been hardly exposed to asbestos since the year 2000, and moderate exposures still occurred between 1985 and 2000.

    We do recommend that people who worked before 1985 in typical occupations with high asbestos exposure submit an application.

  • The Asbestos Fund provides compensation for those who are victims of:

    • Mesothelioma

    • Asbestosis

    • Bilateral diffuse pleural thickening

    • Lung cancer caused by asbestos

    • Laryngeal cancer caused by asbestos

    • Ovarian cancer caused by asbestos

    For all diseases, it must be proven that the asbestos exposure occurred in Belgium. For asbestosis, additional exposure criteria also apply.

  • People exposed to asbestos can also develop other diseases, particularly pleural plaques.

    Although this disease is caused by asbestos exposure, it does not cause disability and does not require medical treatment. Therefore, the Asbestos Fund does not provide compensation for it.

    Civil servants or private sector employees suffering from such an asbestos-related disease may, however, be able to turn to Fedris for compensation, provided they meet Fedris’s recognition criteria.

  • You must submit an application using the following forms:

    Send these documents to the Asbestos Fund – Sterrenkundelaan 1 – 1210 Brussels.

  • Once we have received all the documents, our staff will check whether all the necessary information is included. If needed, we may contact you or your doctor for additional information. You will then receive a letter with the contact details of your case manager within 14 days.

    Before making a decision, we follow these steps:

    • Collect information about your professional career.
      (If you meet certain conditions, your asbestos-related disease may also be recognized as an occupational disease by Fedris. In that case, Fedris will automatically notify you of their decision.)

    • Check whether there is sufficient evidence that the asbestos exposure occurred in Belgium.
      This is done by our engineers. They may contact you directly.

    • Examine your medical file:
      To confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis, the Asbestos Fund/Fedris relies on the expertise of the Mesothelioma Committee, a panel of anatomical pathologists from all Belgian universities.

      If you apply for another asbestos-related disease, you may be required to undergo a medical examination at our office in Brussels. You will be invited by letter for this.

    Based on the collected information, the Asbestos Fund will make a reasoned decision. You will receive this by registered mail.

    We do everything possible to communicate the result of your application as quickly as possible, but please note that the target timeframe (4 months after receiving the complete application) may sometimes be exceeded, especially when we depend on external information.

    • A fixed amount of €2,185.20 per month (according to the index of 01/11/2023).

    • A one-time compensation of €11,951 (according to the index of 01/11/2023).

  • A fixed monthly amount of €21.85 (according to the index of 01/11/2023), based on the recognized loss of physical capacity expressed as a percentage.

  • It is possible that, due to your illness, you need assistance with daily activities (moving around, preparing or eating your meals, washing, dressing, maintaining your home, doing your shopping, etc.). In this case, you may be entitled to additional compensation for help from another person. Have the “Medical Certificate for Assistance from Another Person” (AFA 04 N) completed by your doctor and send it to the Asbestos Fund – Sterrenkundelaan 1 – 1210 Brussels.

    The additional compensation is determined based on the necessity of the assistance, using the guaranteed average monthly minimum wage as a reference.

    • Those needing full-time help from another person receive a monthly compensation of €1,994.18 (according to the index of 01/11/2023).

    • For part-time help, the Asbestos Fund pays €997.09 per month (according to the index of 01/11/2023).

    These compensations cannot be combined if they are already covered by Fedris.

     

  • When you submit an application to Fedris, the Asbestos Fund will automatically also examine your rights regarding the diseases recognized by the Asbestos Fund.

  • If an asbestos victim passes away, you as a surviving relative can submit an application using the “Compensation Application for Death” (AFA 03 N).

    The AFA 03 N form consists of two parts:

    • Part 1: to be completed by the surviving relative

    • Part 2: to be completed by the doctor who certified the death or monitored the health of the deceased (your general practitioner, specialist, etc.)

    If the victim received compensation from us and we have your contact information, we will automatically send you the form. We ask that the completed form be returned to us within one month.

    If the victim did not have a file with us during their lifetime, you as a surviving relative have a period of six months from the date of death to submit an application. Send the latest medical reports regarding the deceased’s health along with the completed Compensation Application for Death (AFA 03 N) to:

    Asbestos Fund – Sterrenkundelaan 1 – 1210 Brussels

    • The surviving spouse or legally cohabiting partner: a one-time capital payment of €43,704 (according to the index of 01/11/2023).
    • The ex-partner, to whom maintenance was owed: a one-time capital payment of €21,852 (according to the index of 01/11/2023).
    • Children entitled to child benefits (up to 18 years old): a one-time capital payment of €36,420 (according to the index of 01/11/2023).
    • A contribution to funeral costs of up to €1,195.10 (according to the index of 01/11/2023). This compensation cannot be combined with a similar payment by Fedris under the occupational disease system.

    • The surviving spouse or legally cohabiting partner: a one-time capital payment of €21,852 (according to the index of 01/11/2023).
    • The ex-partner, to whom maintenance was owed: a one-time capital payment of €10,926 (according to the index of 01/11/2023).
    • Children entitled to child benefits (up to 18 years old): a one-time capital payment of €18,210 (according to the index of 01/11/2023).
    • A contribution to funeral costs of up to €1,195.10 (according to the index of 01/11/2023). This compensation cannot be combined with a similar payment by Fedris under the occupational disease system.

  • The compensations paid by the Asbestos Fund are tax-free and are not taken into account when calculating entitlement to other social or welfare benefits.

  • If you contest the decision of the Asbestos Fund, you can appeal within three months from the date you were notified of the decision. You must submit the appeal to the competent labour court. See the list here.

    You can do this:

    • Either by a written petition submitted in person or sent by registered mail to the clerk of the labour court,

    • Or by a summons. However, since this involves a submission method requiring payment, the Asbestos Fund will dispute coverage of the associated costs.

    You can find more information about how to submit this appeal on the back of your decision letter. The costs for this procedure are fully borne by the Asbestos Fund regardless of the outcome, except if the request is deemed vexatious and reckless.

    You must, in any case, pay the fees and professional costs of your doctor(s) and lawyer(s) yourself. Note also that the procedure for submitting an appeal regarding the Asbestos Fund differs from that of Fedris.

    Read more about legal remedies regarding Fedris

     

  • We offer asbestos victims and their surviving relatives the possibility of free support from a social worker.

    Read more here about what our support includes.

     

  • No, the law stipulates that receiving compensation from the Asbestos Fund prevents you from filing a claim in court against the responsible third party (for example, the employer), except when they intentionally caused the disease.

  • Once your application has been approved, you will receive the compensation within 45 days following the positive decision. The payment will be made by transfer to the bank account number you provided.

  • The official name of the Asbestos Fund is the Compensation Fund for Asbestos Victims. Its management is overseen by Fedris.

    The Asbestos Fund itself was established by the Program Law of 27 December 2006 (Belgian Official Gazette of 28 December). On 29 May 2007, a Royal Decree was issued to implement this Program Law.

    Read more in the legislation section.