Cross-border commuting

Updated : 12/2012

Benefits

As a cross-border commuter — employed or self-employed:

You pay social security contributions and are covered in the country where you work
You can however obtain medical treatment in the country where you live
If you become unemployed, you shall apply for benefits in the country where you live
Different rules apply for each area of social security: health, unemployment, pensions, family benefits, etc.

Sample story

Social security contributions — pay them only in the country where you work

Balázs lived in Hungary and worked in Austria. He paid social security contributions in Austria. However, the Hungarian authorities are claiming that he should have paid contributions to the Hungarian social security scheme.

EU cross-border commuters are insured in one national social security system only — in their country of employment. The Hungarian authorities’ claim is wrong.

Unemployment benefits

If you are a cross-border commuter (employed or self-employed) and lose your job, you can only claim unemployment benefits from the country where you live.

This has been the case since 1 May 2010 but some job centres still might not know. If you have problems getting unemployment benefit abroad, you can get help from our assistance services.

Amount

Your entitlement and the amount of benefit are based on the rules in the country where you live and your working periods abroad.

U1 document (formerly E 301)

Ask the authorities in the country(ies) where you have worked for a U1 document (former E 301 form). You should then give the form to the benefits authority dealing with your claim — the authority where you live — so they can take account of periods of insurance or employment in other countries.

Without the form, the authority dealing with your claim can still obtain the necessary information from other countries directly. But a completed U1 will probably speed up your claim.

Help finding work

If you would like help finding a new job in the country where you used to work, you can register as a jobseeker with the national employment service there. You will then have to sign on and comply with other requirements in both countries. However, meeting the requirements of the country where you live is most important, as your benefits could be affected if you do not.

Medical treatment

You are entitled to medical treatment on both sides of the border.

Registration

You should first register in the country where you work and get an S1 form (former E 106 form) from your health insurance authority. This form entitles you and your dependants to register for health insurance in the country where you live. You will therefore have 2 health insurance cards: one for each country.

Dependants

Your dependants can also enjoy the same rights as you if you live and work in:


Austria	Germany	Portugal
Belgium	Greece	Romania
Bulgaria	Latvia	Slovakia
Cyprus	Luxembourg	Slovenia
Czech Republic	Malta
France	Poland

If you live or work in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, or the United Kingdom, your dependants cannot have 2 health insurance cards. They can receive treatment in the country where you work only when one of the following conditions are met:

treatment becomes necessary on medical grounds during their stay in that country, taking into account the nature of the treatment and the expected length of the stay
there is an agreement between the countries/authorities concerned
prior authorisation has been granted using form S2 (former E 112 form) issued by the health insurance authority in the country where you live.

Caring for sick children — As a cross-border commuter, if you take time off work to care for a sick child, check with your health insurance whether you qualify for benefits. You may not if your child is insured together with your partner in the country where you live.

Forms you will need

S1 form (former E 106 form) — certificate of entitlement to healthcare for you and your dependants in the country where you or they live. Get it from your health insurance authority in the country where you work and submit it to the health insurance authority in your home country.
U1 form (former E 301 form) — statement of insurance periods to be considered when calculating unemployment benefits. Get it from the national employment service in the country(ies) where you worked and submit it to the national employment services in the country where you wish to apply for benefits. If you do not submit this document to the authority dealing with your claim, it will obtain the necessary information from other countries electronically.

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