Federal Pensions Service demands hundreds of thousands back from Brussels attack victims: 'They are in a state of panic'

It has been ten years since the bombs exploded in Zaventem and Maalbeek, but for many victims, the nightmare is still far from over. Today, they had to absorb another devastating blow: the Federal Pensions Service (formerly the Rijksdienst voor Pensioenen) is demanding that they repay hundreds of thousands of euros. As if the scars and trauma weren't enough, they must now also fear for their financial future. I have spent the last few hours speaking with several of those affected, and the despair is palpable.

A letter that wrecks lives

It all started with an official letter landing on their doormats. People like Mohamed, who was hit by shrapnel all over his body during the airport attack, thought the worst was over. For years, they received a so-called 'restitution pension' from the Federal Pensions Service, intended to compensate for their loss of income and permanent injuries. But now, out of the blue, the government agency has turned off the tap. Not only has the payment stopped, but they are also being ordered to repay all the money they have received over the past few years. For Mohamed alone, this amounts to more than €200,000. "I haven't got that money anymore," he says, his voice breaking. "I used it to pay for my adapted home, for therapies, for medical expenses. Am I supposed to sell my house now?"

How can this happen?

According to the Federal Pensions Service, this is an "administrative correction". It appears that the restitution 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 service states that there has been double payment and that they are legally obliged to recover the money. Legally, it might be correct, but morally, this makes no sense whatsoever. These aren't fraudsters; these are people who have lived through hell on earth.

Victims in utter turmoil

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

• A mother who lost her daughter in the Maalbeek metro: she has to repay €150,000, money she will never be able to scrape together.
• A man who lost both legs: he used his pension to pay for prosthetics, and is now facing a mountain of debt.
• A young woman with severe brain damage: her guardian fears she will end up on welfare, as the care she needs is unaffordable without that pension.

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

What now?

Politicians have already called for the recoveries to be stopped immediately. Questions are being asked in parliament to the Minister for Pensions. But for now, the Federal Pensions Service is standing firm: the law is the law. Yet, the realisation is dawning that this is an inhumane situation. How can you ask people who have survived hell to cough up hundreds of thousands of euros? Many simply don't have that kind of money, and the forced sale of their homes would mean another disaster. The coming weeks will show whether politicians will intervene. One thing is certain: these people deserve compassion, not a bailiff at the door.