Apply for, renew or modify your IDESS recognition and related grants

• ASBLs
• Public centres for social welfares and groups of public centres for social welfare
• Cooperative enterprises recognised as social enterprises (ES).  

Recognition as a Social Enterprise (ES) is managed by the Federal Public Service Economy (online form). Please note that you can apply for both Cooperative Enterprise (SC) and ES recognition at the same time (more information).

What work is permitted? 

• small-scale maintenance, repair and home improvement jobs: these are jobs that are too small to be of interest to a "traditional" company, and can be carried out by a DIY enthusiast with no special qualifications. This applies to both the beneficiary's building and furniture.
• the development and maintenance of green spaces such as:
• mowing the lawn,
• trimming a hedge,
• weeding around homes, yards and pavements,
• digging a garden or vegetable patch,
• cutting firewood,
• collecting and disposing of rubbish, leaves and branches,
• cleaning one or more graves,
• clearing snow from pavements,
• social transport: transport for "disadvantaged" people who do not have a car or the possibility of using public transport or taxis.
• social laundry: laundry services for "disadvantaged" people
• social shops: sale of food products and basic necessities at prices at least 30% lower than those charged by large retailers. Repair, recycling and reuse activities are also eligible in the case of non-food and second-hand goods.
• the cleaning of premises: offices and infrastructure of small ASBLs.

What are the rates and limits applied to the services offered by IDESS?

The rates and limits of the services offered by IDESS depend on the type of service and the status of the beneficiary. Service limitations may include, for example, restrictions on the surface area of green spaces to be maintained or the maximum number of annual hours allocated to each type of service.

Recognition may be suspended or withdrawn if the IDESS no longer meets the conditions for recognition. 

Recognition as an IDESS allows you to apply for grants. Grant applications are made at the same time as recognition applications, renewals or any modification to this recognition.

The "operating costs" grant

Annual grant of €1,230 per FTE under SINE status, Art.60§7 or Art. 61.

You must employ at least two subsidised FTE workers to receive this grant. 

The "PRM social taxi vehicle" grant

One-off grant of €13,532 to help purchase or adapt vehicles for elderly people or people with reduced mobility.

You must employ three FTE workers with SINE, Art.60§7 or Art. 61 status to qualify for this grant.

The SINE or Art.61 grant

Annual subsidy of €15,993 per worker with SINE or Art.61 status.

Exception: If you offer informal care as part of the King Baudouin Foundation's experimental fund, the grant can be awarded to workers who are not under SINE or Art.61 status.

The "benefit for disadvantaged individuals" grant

Additional subsidy of €1,230 per worker (with SINE or art.61 status) providing services for “vulnerable” persons.

Exception: If you offer informal care as part of the King Baudouin Foundation's experimental fund, the grant can be awarded to workers who provide services for non-vulnerable people.

Support grant

Grant dependent on number of workers. It is used to subsidise the supervisory staff of subsidised workers. 

Forem covers all or part of this amount, depending on the situation. Part of the amount may be covered by SPW.

Submit your application

You must complete a form and return it with the enclosures to the following email address: idess@spw.wallonie.be

Your application for renewal of recognition must be submitted between eight months (240 days) and four months (120 days) before the expiry of the current recognition.

Processing your application

Once we receive your application, we have 15 calendar days to check that it is complete. 

• If it is, we will send you an acknowledgement of receipt.
• If it is not, we will send you a notice stating the missing documents. 

Once your file is complete, we analyse its admissibility.

• The application is sent to the Commission for the recognition and monitoring of social economy enterprises (COMES), which may ask you for additional information. It delivers its opinion within 30 days.
• We send a proposed decision to the Minister within 15 days of receipt of the Commission's opinion, or in the absence of an opinion, within 45 days of the request for an opinion.
• The Minister or their delegate will make a decision within 30 days of the hearing. The decision specifies the number of workers to be employed.

We will send you the decision by registered mail.

Processing your file

Within four and a half months of receiving the complete application, you will receive the decision of the Minister by registered mail.

Validity of recognition

The first recognition is granted for a period of two years for one or more fields of activity. This recognition can then be renewed for periods of four years. Recognition is never granted for an indefinite period.

The calculation for the date of renewal of recognition is based on the date when the recognition was obtained.

• Decree from the Walloon government of 14 December 2006, concerning the approval and subsidisation of “employment-development initiatives in the local social-services sector”, abbreviated as “IDESS”
• AGW of 21 June 2007 concerning the execution of the Decree from the Walloon government of 14 December 2006, concerning the approval and subsidisation of “employment-development initiatives in the local social-services sector”
• Decree of 17 July 2018 concerning various measures relating to employment, training, economy, industry, research, innovation, digital, environment, ecological transition, regional development, public works, mobility and transport, energy, climate, airport policy, tourism, agriculture, nature, forest, local authorities and housing (see chapter II – section 10)

In the event of the refusal, suspension or withdrawal of recognition, the recognised IDESS may lodge a reasoned appeal with the Commission within 30 days of receipt of the decision to refuse, suspend or withdraw recognition, by registered letter or by any other means that provides a certain date of dispatch or receipt. The IDESS or the person it designates may be heard by the Commission at its request. The Commission acknowledges receipt within 15 days, examines the appeal and submits a proposed opinion to the Minister within 30 days of receipt of the appeal. If this deadline is not met, the opinion is no longer required. The Minister confirms or reverses their initial decision within 30 days of receipt of the Commission's opinion; or, in the absence of an opinion from the Commission, within 45 days of acknowledgement of receipt. The Administration sends the decision to the claimant, by registered mail or by any other means that provides a certain date of dispatch or receipt, within 15 days of its receipt, and informs the Commission by ordinary mail. 

In addition, any natural or legal person who considers that an administrative body based in Wallonia or the Wallonia-Brussels Federation failed to act, in a matter concerning that person, in a manner consistent with its public service mission may refer the matter, in writing or in person, to the Ombudsman of Wallonia and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. 

This complaint can be made in writing to the following address: 

The Ombudsman of Wallonia and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation

Rue Lucien Namèche, 54 

B-5000 Namur