The Public Centre for Social Welfare (CPAS) in Anderlecht was engulfed in scandal last week as an undercover investigation showed that the system was being abused, without sufficient checks to prevent benefit fraud.
When the systematic failures were exposed on the Pano programme (VRT's investigative programme), outraged MPs demanded an enquiry and the Minister for Social Integration Karine Lalieux (PS) faced sharp criticism and calls to resign. But in a parliamentary hearing on Wednesday, the presidents of Anderlecht's CPAS failed to show up and Lalieux said that the issues were already being looked into.
Among other services, CPAS provide financial assistance to those without a minimum income. Reporters of VRT's investigative programme Pano received a tip-off about irregularities at the CPAS in Anderlecht. Posing as Anderlecht residents looking for financial support, the reporters were given thousands of euros.
The Pano investigation led to a flurry of criticism last week and a hearing was scheduled for Wednesday in the Chamber Committee on Social Affairs. But neither the current nor previous president of the Anderlecht CPAS – Lotfi Mostefa (PS) and Mustapha Akouz (PS) – were present, Bruzz reports.
The outgoing Minister for Social Integration Karine Lalieux (PS) did attend and was met with a barrage of questions and accusations of complacency. But Lalieux said that the Federal Public Planning Service for Social Integration (SPP) had already been looking into the alleged issues.
A known problem
The SPP first intervened in 2022 and again in 2023 when the CPAS was asked to draw up an action plan to address the issues, Lalieux explained.
Due to a lack of significant improvement, the administration decided in early October 2024 – before the VRT report aired – to sanction the CPAS. It also asked the centre to make tangible improvements in 2025. Failure to do so would result in a reduction in funding.
Lalieux explained that these decisions were taken without her oversight: "The administration has never asked me questions about specific files, nor about sanctions arising from them." She therefore argued that she could not be accused of "covering up any fraud."
In the Pano investigation, social workers admit that some applications had been approved despite the centre knowing that claimants were not entitled to an allowance. The final decision to provide financial support is made by the "special committee for social services" of the CPAS, which consists of local politicians. The law dictates that they can decide autonomously.
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On the sidelines of the hearing, MPs received a letter from CPAS councillor José Fernandez Lopez (DéFI), who said he had for years sounded the alarm about issues at the Anderlecht centre. "In 2021 we proposed establishing an anti-fraud unit. This was never acted upon."
Since the Pano report was aired, Lalieux has asked the inspectorate to look into the two specific files, and the SPP already requested reimbursement. Lalieux has also asked for all new files at the CPAS since 1 September 2024 to be audited. Centres that fail to complete files within the 30-day legal deadline will face heavier sanctions.
In the meantime, the Brussels Labour Auditor’s Office has opened an investigation into the potential fraud.
