Chris Bulteel, a 62-year-old pharmacist from Tienen, Belgium, recently received a disappointing pension amount of only 502 euros. Upon investigation, he discovered that this was due to his past as an assisting spouse to his ex-wife. Until 2005, assisting spouses of the self-employed did not have to pay social security contributions and therefore did not accumulate pension rights. When Chris divorced his first wife in 2002 and became a full-time freelancer, his pension counter only began accumulating from July 2002. If he had not remarried, he would have been entitled to his ex-wife’s survivor’s pension, but he lost this right upon remarriage. Chris worries regarding his financial future and raising his six children, but specialist Ria Janvier suggests that an alternative method of calculating the minimum pension now applies to those who cannot fulfill the minimum of 30 years of career.
Chris Bulteel, a 62-year-old Belgian, became disillusioned by going to MyPension. The pharmacist from Tienen realized that he had a legal pension of… 502 euros! And all because of… her divorce. But how is this possible? Ria Janvier, pension expert, gave explanations to our colleagues from HLN.
It was in 1985 that Chris took over a company in Tirlemont with his wife. They were both freshly graduated pharmacists. “My wife was self-employed as a main occupation and I registered as a supporting husband, especially since I still had to do my military service a year later,” explains Chris. “Administratively, it was the easiest thing to do,” he says.
Until 2005, both spouses did not have to pay social security contributions. But neither did they accumulate pension rights. “It was only from July 1, 2005 that the legislator created a full status for the assisting spouses of the self-employed and they are compulsorily insured in all branches of the social status of the self-employed,” explains expert Ria January. “At that time, nobody was talking regarding such things. All we’ve heard is that as an assisting spouse, you don’t have to pay premiums. At the time, many self-employed people had the idea that it was nice that only one of the partners had to pay social security contributions, but they didn’t think much regarding the long-term consequences,” says Chris.
But because of that, Chris now has to make do with a legal minimum pension. “My wife started a new relationship and we divorced in June 2002. I bought the business and then registered as a full-fledged freelancer. So my retirement counter only started to work in July 2002,” says the sixty-year-old. In 2005, Chris remarried. His new wife has joined his company as a “cooperating husband”. “We both paid social security contributions, although my social security contribution went down, as it is calculated on the basis of net taxable professional income,” explains Chris.
“If I hadn’t remarried…”
“By remarrying, I also lost my rights to my ex-wife’s survivor’s pension. If I hadn’t remarried, I would have received half of my ex’s pension. But I only found out followingwards. So I have to be content with what I started to accumulate from the age of 41, ”says Chris once more. If he retires in 2027, the pharmacist will receive 502 euros per month. “It is no less than 700 euros less than the legal minimum pension that you receive from the age of 30. And that for 43 years of hard work, in the field of health, seven days a week! “laments Chris.
But the 60-year-old wonders if he will be allowed to work until 2027. “I love my job, just like my wife, who is ten years younger. I wouldn’t mind continuing together for a while, although I also wonder if I’ll be able to handle it all physically,” adds the 60-year-old. For him, “the most frustrating thing is of course that the last 17 years before 2002 do not count” for his retirement. “And no one can live on 500 euros a month,” he laments.
Chris now fears for the future. “My ex and I have four children and I have two children from my second marriage. Raising six children and sending them to college is very expensive. Will I have financial problems in my old age? I don’t dare think regarding it too much,” adds Chris.
For her part, Ria Janvier explains: “It is a regulation that dates from a time when it was still assumed that a marriage was for life. Very recently, the legislator intervened in the granting of a minimum pension. For assisting spouses who have only been subject to the social status of self-employed since July 1, 2005 and who therefore cannot fulfill the minimum of 30 years of career, an alternative method of calculating the minimum pension now applies”.
“Chris’ case is a divorce. He will therefore in no case be entitled to a survivor’s pension in the event of the death of his first wife. The condition for receiving a survivor’s pension following the death of the self-employed spouse is that a marital relationship exists at that time. Chris has indeed lost his right to a survivor’s pension, not by remarrying, but by divorcing, ”explains the specialist once more. She adds that Chris can freelance as much as he wants.
In conclusion, Chris Bulteel’s story highlights the importance of understanding the long-term financial consequences of decisions made early in one’s career, especially in regards to retirement. The fact that he only has a legal pension of 502 euros per month following working for 43 years is a sobering reminder for everyone to start thinking regarding retirement planning as early as possible, and to seek proper advice from pension experts. Despite the challenges he faces, Chris remains optimistic and continues to work passionately in his field. We wish him all the best for the future.
