Federal Pensions Agency Demands Hundreds of Thousands Back from Brussels Attack Victims: 'They Are Panicked'

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

A Letter That Devastates 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 Agency, intended to compensate for their loss of income and permanent injuries. But now, out of the blue, the government agency is pulling the plug. Not only is the payment stopping, but they are also being forced to repay all the money they've received over the past few years. For Mohamed alone, that's over 200,000 euros. "I haven't had that money for a long time," he says, his voice cracking. "I used it to pay for my adapted home, therapies, medical costs. Do I have to sell my house now?"

How Can This Happen?

According to the Federal Pensions Agency, this is an "administrative correction." It seems the restitution pensions continued to be paid out while victims were also receiving other compensation, for example 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 obligated to recover the funds. Legally, it might be correct, but morally, this makes no sense. These aren't fraudsters; these are people who have been through hell on earth.

Victims in Turmoil

Panic immediately set in within victim support groups. Many have been living on a financial edge for years, dealing with medical issues and psychological problems. And now this. Here are some of the reactions I heard:

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

They feel abandoned by the government that once promised to take good care of them. "We are victims of terrorism, and now we're being victimized again, this time by our own state," one person lamented.

What Now?

Politicians have already called for the recoveries to be stopped immediately. Questions are being asked in parliament to the Minister of Pensions. But for now, the Federal Pensions Agency is standing firm: the law is the law. Yet, the realization 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 a forced sale of their homes would be a new disaster. The coming weeks will show whether politicians will intervene. One thing is certain: these people deserve compassion, not a bailiff.