Compensation & Royalties for Artists with Disabilities
As a museum working with artists, it is important to ensure that artists are paid fairly for their work. At the same time, remuneration can sometimes affect the disability-related benefits that artists receive. So, the question we will be asking today is: How can artists be fairly compensated without inadvertently affecting the disability-related benefits or social support on which they rely?
Types of Benefits and their Impact
In Belgium, 264 250 people with disabilities receive an Income Replacement Allowance (IRA) and/or an Integration Allowance (IA). These benefits are intended to compensate for a loss of earned income and/or the additional costs of a disability, respectively. When an artist earns an income from, for example, a piece commission, it can affect the amount of these benefits.
However, the impact varies greatly depending on the type of benefit. With an integration allowance,artists can earn up to €72.366,97 in personal income without it being reduced. Therefore, a remuneration below this amount won’t pose problem for artists who receive only an Integration Allowance.
The situation is different for the Income Replacement Allowance. As this benefit is linked to the recipient’s limited ability to work. Professional income can affect the final amount of the IRA. Since the 2024 unemployment reform, a more favourable scheme has been introduced for people returning to work after a long period of inactivity. Those who resume professional activity after more than 2 years without work may benefit from this measure.
Under this system, a larger share of their professional income is exempt when calculating the Income Replacement Allowance. There are three indexed brackets as of January 2024:
- Up to €25,499.82 → 100% exception
- €25,499.83-€30,599.78 → 50% exception
- €30,599.79-€35,699.75 → 25% exception
Copyright & royalties
Copyright & royalties also deserve to be taken into consideration, as artistic income is not limited to performances, but may also generate income from royalties, for example, for texts, visual material, sound works, or digital creations. Depending on the individual situation, this income can form as a supplement to traditional remuneration.
Tips
Before agreeing on a fee, it is advisable to discuss the artist’s situation openly. What benefits does the artist receive? Are there other sources of income? And what impact might a payment have on their financial situation? Different benefits are subject to different rules, and the impact of remuneration can vary significantly from one person to another. An individual approach is essential here.
Want to learn more about this topic? Read The Impact of Income Earned by Artists with Disabilities on Their Disability-Related Benefits and Financial Support, a legal analysis by Compagnie Néanderthal. An easy-to-read version is also available, produced by Inclusion.
Compagnie Néanderthal has also developed a simulation tool that helps artists estimate the income replacement and integration allowances they may be able to receive. Please note that these resources are currently available only in French.
© Photo: Maxime Karassev
