The Belgian Social Security system provides a wide range of benefits including retirement, survivors and disability benefits. To qualify for Belgian benefits, a worker must meet minimum length-of-work or recency-of-work requirements that vary depending upon the type of benefit. The Belgian Social Security system is divided into:

1. 1. 

   A general system that covers most employees in the private sector, and

2. 2. 

   Special systems for public employees and self-employed persons.

As used in this subchapter, references to the Belgian system include the general system and the special systems.