1. What income do families need for social participation? Belgian reference budgets for social inclusion Bérénice Storms

2. Reference budget as guideline which enable the full participation in society of all citizens Social participation (adequately playing different roles) ‏ Health nutricious food  protective housing  appropriate health care and personal care  suitable clothing  rest and leisure Autonomy: security in childhood  significant primary relationships  mobility  security

3. Reference budgets developed by experts and citizens Role of experts: Translating needs into concrete goods and services Starting as much as possible from a normative (≠ prescriptive!) point of view If legal norms fit to social reality … Transparency!

4. Reference budgets developed by experts and citizens Role of citizens: Help experts to translate needs into concrete goods and services Ensure acceptability Method: No survey: mixture of needs and wants Focus groups are better than interviews: because of interaction effects

5. Composition of focus groups: Homogenous for: Income position (income around European poverty threshold) Household composition (couples with little children) Living circumstances (healthy, not working, …) Reference budgets developed by experts and citizens

6. Research stages - Stage 1: Flemish reference budgets, financed by University High school K.H. Kempen(2007-2009) Reference budgets developed abroad Secondary data analysis Literature review Experts: translating of needs into concrete goods and services (quantity, quality, life spam) + Pricing Case study 9 Focus groups Group interview with low income families Final Fremish reference budgets for 17 family types anno 2008, (not working, renting in private housing, in good health) Adaption by experts Individual interviews with families around poverty line Additional expertise: - Delphi study - comment baskets - additional analyses Total Budgets for 17 family types (not working, renting in private housing, in good health)

7. Research stages - Stage 2: Belgian reference budgets, financed by Belgian government(2007-2009) Flemish Reference budgets Literature review Experts: Translating of needs into concrete goods and services (quantity, quality, life spam) + Pricing Focus groups with: -Working adults (2) -Elderly people (3) -Students (14) Interview with lone parent families (5) – case study sick persons (12) Additional expertise: - comment baskets - additional analyses Belgian reference budgets for 24 family types, living in different socio- economic circumstances anno 2010 Price indexation by category Focusgroups (7) wilth low income families in Wallonia and Brussels Consulting experts: -additional analyses Experts Translating of needs into concrete goods and services (quantity, quality, life spam) for a decent life in Wallonia and Brussels + Pricing

8. How should the focus groups best be organised? How to integrate life time events, e.g. save money to leave home ? How should the cost of important life time changes (living alone, getting unemployed, become a pensioner) be covered? Reference budgets: challenges for the future

9. Valorisation of Belgian reference budgets Reference budgets can be used for: 1.Determining additional income support, settling income maintenance, debt rescheduling; 2.Financial education/debt prevention; 3.Measuring poverty; 4.Encouraging politicians to work towards a socially inclusive society.

10. 1.Determining additional income support, debt rescheduling: development of a practical tool

11. 2.Financial education/debt prevention

12. 3.Measuring poverty Social rent Private rent House owner with morrtgage House owner, no mortgage EU-SILC

13. 4. Encouraging politicians to work towards a socially inclusive society reference budgets not only reveal what level of income is needed; they also imply a commitment to social cohesion and social inclusion

14. . Encouraging politicians to work towards a socially inclusive society Housing costs: + 50% ! Education costs non regulated Education costs regulated If a car is needed: + 292€

15. Thanks for your attention! Berenice.storms@khk.be BereniceML.storms@ua.ac.be