Social assistance centers in Belgium will be able to hire private detectives to investigate cases of fraud related to social benefits.

The Minister for Asylum and Migration, Anneleen Van Bossuyt, announced that social assistance centers (CPAS/OCMW) will be able to call on private detective agencies to investigate cases of fraud in social benefits. This measure, approved by the federal government, aims to identify individuals who hide real estate or rental income.

Although checks are already possible for properties in Belgium, detecting assets located abroad is more complicated. Detectives will be able to collect information from local registers and official documents, but the final decision will remain the responsibility of the social worker.