Federal Pensions Service demands hundreds of thousands back from Brussels bombing victims: 'They're in a panic'

It's been ten years since the bombs went off in Zaventem and Maalbeek, but for many victims, the nightmare is far from over. Today they were dealt another devastating blow: the Federal Pensions Service (the former Rijksdienst voor Pensioenen) is demanding they pay back hundreds of thousands of euros. As if the scars and trauma weren't enough, now they have to fear for their financial future as well. I've spent the last few hours speaking with several of those affected, and the despair is palpable.

A letter that destroys lives

It all started with an official letter landing on their doormats. People like Mohamed, who was hit by shrapnel all over his body in the airport attack, thought the worst was behind them. For years, they'd been receiving what's known as an injury pension from the Federal Pensions Service, designed to compensate for their loss of income and permanent injuries. But now, out of the blue, the government agency has pulled the plug. Not only is the payment stopping, but they're also being forced to repay all the money they've received over the past few years. For Mohamed alone, that's more than 200,000 euros. "I haven't got that money anymore," he says, his voice cracking. "I used it to pay for my modified home, for therapies, for medical expenses. Am I supposed to sell my house now?"

How can this happen?

According to the Federal Pensions Service, it's an "administrative correction." It seems the injury pensions continued to be paid out while victims were also receiving other compensation, for instance from the National Institute for Sickness and Disability Insurance or through court settlements. The agency claims there was double payment and that they are legally obliged to recover it. It might be legally correct, but morally, it's completely off the mark. These aren't fraudsters; these are people who have been through absolute hell on earth.

Victims in a terrible state

Panic immediately spread through victim support groups. Many have been living on a financial knife-edge for years, dealing with ongoing medical issues and psychological struggles. And now this. Here's a snapshot of the reactions I heard:

• A mother who lost her daughter in the Maalbeek metro: she has to pay back 150,000 euros, money she'll never be able to scrape together.
• A man who lost both legs: he used his pension to pay for prosthetics and is now staring down a massive debt.
• A young woman with severe brain damage: her guardian fears she'll end up on welfare because the care she needs is unaffordable without that pension.

They feel abandoned by the government that once promised they would be well looked after. "We're victims of terrorism, and now we're being victimised again, this time by our own state," one person sighed.

What now?

Politicians have already called for the recovery demands to be stopped immediately. Questions are being asked in parliament to the Minister for Pensions. But for now, the Federal Pensions Service is holding its ground: the law is the law. Still, the realisation is starting to dawn that this is an inhumane situation. How can you ask people who have survived a living nightmare to cough up hundreds of thousands of euros? Many simply don't have that kind of money, and being forced to sell their homes would be yet another catastrophe. The coming weeks will show whether politicians step in. One thing is certain: these people deserve compassion, not a bailiff at the door.