of community development, realized in well-defined projects, whereas welfare work focuses on individual situations. The budget was 113,5 million BEF in 1990 and 120
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million BEF in 1991. The new Decree has not changed the budget, but, as already mentioned, the poverty funds provided extra means for well defined projects.
It is still too early to evaluate the new Decree. However, it mainly formalizes existing arrangements.
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2. INCOME.
In 1990, the fundamental change in the Belgian income tax-system had its effect on low-income households. The most important one was the increase of the tax free minimum income from 120.000 BEF a year to 165.000 BEF. Although this tax-reduction had an effect on all the incomes, two-income households from the higher income range gained most from it.
We focus on income sources of the low income families: - subsistence income (2.1.)
- supplementary financial support (2.2.) - alimony (2.3.)
2.1. Subsistence Income.
At the end of the 1980’s the level of the subsistence, income has been raised several times with 2%; on top of the consumer price index. Furthermore, a new category for single parents was created in 1987. In the period 1987-1992 the subsistence income for this category has been raised from the amount for a "single person" to the amount for a "couple". The national government has spent some 3,9 milliard BEF on subsistence income in 1990. This is only half of the budget for subsistence income, since the local authorities finance the other half.
The annual extra of 2% was a matter of "direct" poverty-policy and was taken partly as a compensation for "indirect" measures. The rise in subsistence income reflected the governments social concern and was the most visible measure for the population. At the same time savings in the social security system continued, pressing people to call on the subsistence income after having lost their normal social security benefit. The 2% extra, though positive, was not part of a coherent poverty policy of the government. Furthermo re, the 2% extra could not avoid that from 1986 to 1989 National Income per capita increased faster than the subsistence income. However, the upgrade of the single parents-category was an important improvement.
22. Supplementary financial support.
One of the important differences between the subsistence income and the supplementary financial support is the virtual absence of regulation of the latter. The local PCSW decides who gets what and how much.
The supplementary financial support is based on art. 60 par. 3 of the Act of 8th of July 1976 on the PCSW:
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This material help is mostly given in the form of extra financial support. There is no regulation on the ability or the willingness to work, as there is for the subsistence income. The only criterion used is the actual need for help of the client. The application of this criterion is not regulated by formal norms.
It thus should not be surprising that there are large differences between the PCSW and between the different types of clients within PCSW. This is the main conclusion of Dirk Luyten in an article with the eloquent title "Not all poor are equal before the PCSW" (Luyten, 1991).
Based on a sample from 1989 in 47 Flemish PCSW, with 462 persons receiving financial support, he concluded that, despite the fact that the actual law is based on other principles, the ancient division of the poor in those who are unable to work, those who can not find a job and those who are unwilling to work, is still being used by social workers.
This hidden classification is present in the level of supplementary financial support. Three variables have been analysed. Older people have less difficulty in obtaining a higher income than younger people. The greater the health problems, the easier it is to receive a higher total income. And finally, but less significant, is the influence of sex: female clients have more chance of receiving a higher income.
Luyten concluded that poor who are unable to work (because of bad health and/or of old age) receive more easily extra financial support of the PCSW compared to poor who are able to work (in good health and/or young). The traditional criterion of ability to work still is an important element in the decisions of the PCSW on providing financial support, even if the legislation uses other criteria. It is clear that there is an important social control function of the PCSW, forcing people to look for a job.
2.3. Alimony by PCSW.
After a divorce, 18% of the ex-husbands does not pay alimony to their former wife and/or child(ren), in 24% of the cases it is payed irregularly. For low-income single parents - especially on subsistence income - such an irregular alimony can cause serious financial problems.
Since 8 May 1989 a new bill provides two new rights to the single parent with children: she (or he) can obtain a cash advance from the Public Centre for Social Welfare (PCSW), at present limited to 4.000 BEF a month for each child. Furthermore, the person can claim legal support in order to obtain payments of the arrears of alimony (Vanholder, 1991). This new regulation provides an important support for single parent-