This chapter covers all you need to know about the social benefits you are entitled to when moving within the EU, EEA and Switzerland.

For the UK, each case needs to be assessed individually to determine whether a person falls within the scope of Art 30 of the Withdrawal Agreement, and so the EU Coordination Regulations apply, or whether they fall within the scope of situations described in Art 32 of the Withdrawal Agreement and/or come under domestic legislation and the Protocol on Social Security Coordination attached to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

Social insurance and European regulations

If you work in a Member State of the EU or EEA or in Switzerland – all of which are bound by the relevant EU regulations – then the general rule is that you no longer come under the Greek social insurance scheme and therefore the rules of your new country of residence will apply to you.

If you have lived, worked and/or paid insurance contributions in a member state of the EU or EEA or in Switzerland (all of which are bound by the relevant EU regulations), then the time of your stay in these countries, the periods you have worked and the contributions you have paid can be offset by your insurance periods in Greece in order to calculate the benefits you are entitled to here.

Which benefits are affected?

The option to offset the contributions you have paid to any of the member states of the EU or EEA or to Switzerland applies to the following benefits:

• healthcare
• maternity benefits/equivalent paternity benefits
• old-age pensions
• invalidity pensions
• survivor's pensions
• unemployment benefit
• special seasonal aid

What should I do?

If you have worked in another country and are returning to Greece, you must bring with you a file with your insurance contributions, using the E104 and U1 forms (formerly E301 form), which you can obtain from the local branch of the insurance organisation in the country in which you have worked, and submit them to your insurance organisation in Greece and to the Public Employment Service (DYPA) respectively.

If you wish to look for work in Greece and have received unemployment benefits from countries in the EU or EEA or from Switzerland for a period of 4 weeks, you may transfer these benefits to Greece for a period of 3 to 6 months. You will need to bring with you a completed U2 form (former E303 form), which must be submitted to the Public Employment Service (DYPA).

Forms you may need to fill in

• E104 and U1 forms (formerly E301 form)
• U2 form (formerly E303 form)

Know your rights

Publication and website of the European Commission:

• EU Social Security Coordination

Who do you need to contact?

Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
General Secretariat for Social Security
Directorate for Specialized Matters on Social Security and Benefits
Section for the Implementation of EU Regulations
29, Stadiou street - 10559 Athens

GREECE

E-mail: intaffairs@ypakp.gr

www.ypakp.gr

e-National Social Security Fund (e-EFKA)

Directorate-General for International Cooperation

8 Agiou Konstantinou Str. - 10241Athens

GREECE

E-mail: gd.international@efka.gov.gr

Public Employment Service (DYPA)
Directorate of Insurance & Social Policies

Εθνικής Αντιστάσεως 8/Ethnikis Antistaseos 8
174 56 Άλιμος/Alimos
ΕΛΛΑΔΑ/GREECE

1555 – Number for Citizens’ communication and service on insurance, labour and social issues www.1555.gov.gr