FAQs - Social security systems in the EU

• I have moved to another country in order to work there, but my family has remained in our home country. Where should I pay health insurance contributions for my dependants?

  There are 2 possibilities:

  If your children's other parent works in your home country, she or he must pay health insurance contributions for your dependants there.

  If your children's other parent does not work, you must pay health insurance contributions for your dependants in the country where you work. You should request an S1 form (former E 109 form bg ) from the health insurance authority of the country where you work. Once it is issued, submit it to the health insurance authority of your home country.

• I have been offered a job in another EU country. Can I keep my benefits in my home country?

  As a general principle, the country where you will work will be responsible for your benefits coverage. You can only be subject to the benefits (sickness, family, pension, unemployment) legislation of one country at a time; you will therefore cease to be covered in your home country. Your new country of work will become responsible for your benefits. You will not however lose the rights you have built in time in your home country, for example your pension rights.

• In the country I have now moved to for work, I can become entitled to sickness benefits only after 6 months of insurance there. Am I subject to this waiting period if I have worked in another EU country?

  NO — EU rules ensure that you will be entitled to sickness benefits from the beginning of your insurance period in your new country if you had previously been covered for 6 months or more in any other EU country.

• What happens if I have an accident while looking for a job abroad? Will my health insurance work?

  If you are receiving unemployment benefits from the country where you became unemployed, your health insurance will still work in other EU countries. You and your family will be entitled to treatment — but you will need to show your European health insurance card. If you do not have one yet, you can apply for one from your health insurance authority.

  Find out about how the healthcare system works when you move to a new country. It could be very different to the one you are familiar with.

• If I go and look for work abroad, can I still receive family benefits from the country where I became unemployed?

  YES — transferring unemployment benefits to another country in order to look for a job there does not affect your social security entitlements or those of your family (health insurance, family allowance, invalidity or old age pension rights, etc.) in the country where you became unemployed.