Use eID to access social security services
No more queuing for social security services
EU countries provide a range of social security services, such as unemployment benefits or health insurance, that work as a “safety net” for their citizens.
Although countries differ significantly in how they provide these services, this overall goal remains the same. When citizens move to work in another EU country, they may have rights to the social security services available in that country.
In order to improve people’s access to services and benefits, many Member States have made it possible to apply for at least some of them online. Thanks to eIDAS eIDs, identifying yourself for these online processes is now more simple and secure for EU citizens who have moved to another EU country.
What is eID and how does it work?
Countries across the EU have developed national electronic identity schemes to improve citizen’s access to national services. But all these national eID systems had differing security mechanisms and were based on different philosophies, lacking cross-border recognition and validation.
To address this, an EU approach, underpinned by the eIDAS Regulation, has been set up. CEF eID now provides the standards and supports the infrastructure (the eIDAS network) which allows these national eID schemes to be mutually recognisable.
A network of eIDAS nodes has been set up across all EEA Member States, based on these standards. This means that an ever growing number of notified national eID schemes can now be used to identify citizens who wish to access different public services in other EU countries.
An overview of the countries already providing notified eID schemes under eIDAS can be found here.
Where can you access social security services with an eIDAS eID?
If you have an eID from a notified eID scheme, you can start using it right away to access online public services in EU countries. The list of notified eID schemes is growing rapidly — currently 19, across 15 Member States. 1
Countries which have already connected their Social Security Services to the eIDAS network make it possible for citizens from other EU countries to access it, using a notified eIDAS eID.
Here are some examples of where this is already possible:
Netherlands
The Social Insurance bank gives access to a range of services, such as child benefits or survivor benefits. All of them are available in a single online portal, where users can log-in using DigiD (the Dutch national eID) or an eIDAS eID.
Finland
Kela, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, provides basic economic security for everyone living in the country. Users can apply to several benefits and services, such as housing benefits, students’ aid or unemployment pensions, logging in with their national eIDs or eIDAS eID.
All countries
Austria - Croatia - Finland - Lithuania - Luxembourg - Netherlands - Slovakia
If you know of another EU Member State where this service can be accessed using an online eID, contact us with the details and we will add them to the list.
If you do not yet have an eID from a notified eID scheme, but are a citizen from one of the countries that already provide them, you can consult the overview of notified eIDs across the EU and apply to get one.