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Understand · Payroll glossary

What is cents indexation?

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Cents indexation limits the indexation of high salaries: above €4,000 gross a month, the first two indexation points apply only to the first €4,000. In 2026: €4,000 and 2% (salary threshold and limited share of indexation (two points), since 1 June 2026). In Dutch: centenindex.

Definition of cents indexation

It has applied a first time since 1 June 2026, and will apply a second time from 1 January 2028 (date still provisional). Beyond these two points, indexation applies normally to the whole salary.

For social benefits, the same principle applies to the first €2,000 gross a month.

The key figure in 2026

€4,000 and 2%Salary threshold and limited share of indexation (two points), since 1 June 2026

Source: Cents indexation in force from 1 June 2026 (Programme Act of 30 May 2026, Belgian Official Gazette of 1 June 2026), Partena Professional (secondary source). Value in force on 1 October 2026.

Worked example

A salary of €5,000 gross, with the indexation forecast of 4.32%: without the rule, +€216.00. With cents indexation, 2% applies only to €4,000, the rest (2.32%) to the whole salary: €80.00 + €116.00 = +€196.00.

In Dutch: centenindex

In Dutch-language communications from your sector or social secretariat, cents indexation is called ‘centenindex’; in French-language ones, ‘indexation en centimes’.

Dutch term taken from: Securex (secondary source).

Not to be confused with…

  • Wage indexation: the automatic adjustment of wages and benefits to rising prices, measured by the health index.
  • Pivot index: a threshold of the smoothed health index: when it is exceeded, social benefits and public sector salaries rise by 2%, and a new threshold is set 2% higher.

Calculate it for your situation

The January 2027 indexation and your sector’s, in net terms, and your purchasing power.

Salary indexation

Related terms

Sources

Parameters in force on 1 October 2026. Each parameter links to its source, the official one where it exists; a secondary source is flagged as such.