Individuals legally residing in the EU relocating to another member State have the right to maintain their social security rights, transferring these to the new country of residency.
The underlying principles regulating this system are as follows:
- You are covered by the legislation of one country at a time, so you only pay contributions in one country. It is up to the social security institution to decide which Country’s regulations apply.
- You have the same rights and obligations as the nationals of the country where you are covered.
- When claiming a benefit, your previous periods of insurance, work or residence in other countries may be considered
- You may receive a benefit to which you are entitled, even if living in a different member state.
These rights can be exercised by using social security mobility forms to be requested in the home country (or country of residency). For example:
Each country has its own Social Security Institution and Health Systems in charge of issuing such forms, it is important to understand with these authorities which is the right form for you.
European Social Security Pass (ESSPASS): this is a pilot project launched in March 2021 aiming to improve the portability of social security rights across borders via digital verification of citizens’ social security coverage. The Project is exploring how a digital solution may improve social security verification between the EU States allowing for a more efficient cross-country coordination of Social Security Institutions.
This would greatly simplify the requirements for cross border citizens to request and carry specific forms depending on their situation.
