Claimants for Belgian disability benefits are not required to complete application forms. The claimant submits a medical certificate and is examined by a Belgian agency doctor. If found to be disabled, the claimant is paid short term (sickness) benefits for a year. If the beneficiary is still disabled after a year, Belgium will begin paying long term (invalidity) benefits.

Since Belgian sickness benefits are not included in the scope of the agreement, Belgium will not advise SSA about those benefits until just prior to converting the beneficiary to invalidity benefits. At that time, the beneficiary is required to sign a declaration about work in other countries. If the declaration indicates work in the U.S. and the beneficiary is not entitled to U.S. benefits, Belgium will notify SSA that a claim has been filed. Belgium certifies the filing date as the date of the signed declaration.