Social security fraud: what are the consequences?

Verified 11 March 2025 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

In case of social security fraud, you can be punished in several ways. These penalties can range from a simple warning to a prison sentence.

Situations in which you may be sanctioned
  • Failure to declare a change of situation (e.g. end of rights holder situation), except in good faith
  • Misrepresentation on a claim form for entitlement and benefit
  • Not telling the truth when reporting status and resources for benefit payment
  • Refusal to issue information, failure to comply with summonses, incomplete or unduly late response to requests from the organization
  • Fraudulent acquisition of a Social Security number.
Penalties that may be imposed on you

The penalty is the repayment of unjustly collected amounts.

Depending on the situation and the seriousness of the alleged offense, the penalty may be one of the following measures:

  • Suspension of benefits
  • Warning, financial penalty, except in case of good faith of the insured
  • Fine or imprisonment.

Please note

Any person who deliberately refuses to become affiliated or who persists in not committing the procedure for compulsory membership of a social security scheme shall be punishable by six months' imprisonment and a fine of €15,000 (or only one of these penalties).