Frequently asked questions - Claims and forms
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Portable documents (former E-forms)
Portable documents replace the old E-forms. They are issued by the competent social security institutions where you are insured.
Each document is about an individual person (possibly including family members) and contains their names and other identifiers. The social security office that issues the document also duly signs and stamps it.
A portable document for the coordination of social security bears an EU flag on the top-left corner, a reference to the social security coordination on the top right corner, and the indication of the issuing institution at the bottom. The only exception is the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). >> Visit our pages dedicated to the EHIC
You should immediately inform the social security office that issued it and follow their instructions. These can vary by country and by type of document. As a general rule, you will not lose the rights certified in the lost document. >> Use our directory to find a contact institution
Healthcare
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is a portable document which proves your entitlement to necessary healthcare while on a temporary stay abroad, i.e. in another country than the one where you reside. Everybody covered by a statutory health insurance scheme in one of the EU countries, Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland or Switzerland has right to an EHIC.
The S1 form allows you to register for healthcare if you live in an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland but you are insured in a different one of these countries.
This is typically the case of pensioners retiring abroad. It can also be useful for members of the family of migrant workers who have stayed in their country of origin but are now covered by the social security insurance of the country where their family member now works.
It corresponds to the old E106, E109, E120 and E121 forms.
The S2 form allows you to prove your entitlement to planned health treatment in another EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. You must obtain it from your health insurance institution before leaving and then submit it to the health insurance institution in the country where you go to receive the treatment.
Treatment will be provided under the same conditions of care and payment as to nationals of that country. This could mean you have to pay a percentage of the costs upfront.
It corresponds to the old E112 form.
The S3 form entitles former cross-border workers to treatment in the country where they used to work. The treatment may be a new one or a follow-up on a medical procedure that started before the holder stopped working there.
Accidents at work and occupational diseases
The DA1 form entitles you to receive medical treatment under conditions that are reserved for cases of accidents at work and occupational diseases in another EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.
It corresponds to the old E123 form.
Unemployment
The U1 form certifies your periods of insurance in another EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland that will be taken into account for the calculation of unemployment benefits.
You can obtain it from the national employment service of the last country/ies where you worked and you should submit it to the national employment service of the country where you wish to apply for benefits.
It corresponds to the old E301 form.
The U2 form is the authorisation you need to export your unemployment benefits. You can obtain it from the national employment service of the country where you became unemployed and you will have to submit it to the national employment service of the country where you wish to look for a job.
It corresponds to the old E303 form.
The U3 form is a warning from the host institution in the country where you are looking for a job. It means that this institution has alerted the institution in the country which is paying your unemployment benefits about the fact that your situation has changed and that these changes may need to be taken into account towards a revision of your benefit payments.
The U3 is delivered as a warning since your benefits may be reduced or stopped following this exchange between institutions. If you receive an U3 form, you may need to contact your home institution to check if your situation has been affected.
Pensions
Posting
The A1 form is a statement on the applicable legislation. It is useful in cases where you might be required to prove that you pay social contributions in another EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.
This is typically the case of posted workers or people working in more than one country at a time. It corresponds to the old E101 and E103 forms. >> Use our directory to find a contact institution
Your claims
Under the EU social security coordination rules, each country must designate a liaison body to respond to requests for information and assistance both from other institutions and from citizens. >> Use our directory to find a liaison body
Each country has its own deadlines and procedures to appeal an administrative decision. It is very important to act promptly and make sure to respect these deadlines. Ask your national institutions for advice.
If you live and have worked in several EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, you may claim invalidity or old-age pensions in the country where you live, if you have been insured there.
The institution there will forward the application to the competent institution even if it is situated in another EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. The date on which the application was submitted will be regarded as the date on which it was submitted to the correct institution.
A claim for an old-age pension can be submitted to the institution of the country where you were last insured, if you have never been insured in the country where you live.
All documents relating to social security coordination (that is, E-forms, European Health Insurance Cards and Provisional Replacement Certificates) issued by the competent authorities under the old coordination rules continue to be valid until they expire or are withdrawn or replaced by the competent institution.
They will be taken into account by institutions even after the date of application of the new regulations on modernised social security coordination on 1 May 2010.