Hungary - Previous coverage abroad can count.
This chapter tells you what you need to know about moving around the EU and the impact that has on your social benefits.
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.
How does social security work in the EU?
If you are going to work in an EU country, or other countries covered by EU regulations, generally you will no longer be a part of the Hungarian social security system and the laws of your new country will apply to you.
If you have lived, worked and/or paid insurance in another EU country, or other countries covered by the same regulations, your time living in another of these countries, the period you have worked or the contributions you have paid may be taken into account when your benefits are calculated in Hungary.
What benefits can I receive?
The ability to combine your contributions paid in EU countries applies to the following benefits:
- sickness benefit;
- maternity and paternity benefit;
- insurance-based family benefits;
- benefits for persons with reduced working capacity;
- old-age pension (contributory);
- survivors’ benefits;
- job-seeker's allowances.
You may also be required to have contributions paid in certain years, but these conditions can be satisfied using contributions made in other EU countries for eligibility, but a benefit is paid after the proportion of periods spent in Hungary.
Certain social security benefits from another European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland may also be transferred to Hungary.
How can I claim?
If you have been working in a country covered by EU regulations and you are returning to Hungary, you need to bring:
- a record of your social insurance contributions using forms E104 and U1 (formerly E301) which you can get from your local social security office. Check with them to make sure you are bringing back all the necessary documentation.
If you have been receiving unemployment benefit from an EEA country or Switzerland for 4 weeks, you can transfer it to Hungary for 3 to 6 months for job-seeking purposes. You need to bring a completed U2 form (formerly E303).
When you are applying for Hungarian social insurance payments, there is a section in the form which asks if you have ever been employed in an EU country.
You will need to know:
- the country where you worked;
- the name and address of your employer there;
- the dates you worked there; and
- your Social Insurance Number there.
Whenever you need to meet certain conditions to claim, the authorities need to take into account the time you may have been paying if you have been working in an EU country or other countries covered by EU regulations. You will still be covered if you change your job and travel to work in these countries.
Know your rights
The links below set out your rights in law, they are not European Commission sites and do not represent the view of the Commission:
European Commission publication and website:
Who do you need to contact?
National Institute of Health Insurance Fund Management
Nemzeti Egészségbiztosítási Alapkezelő, NEAK
Budapest
Váci út 73/A
1139 MAGYARORSZÁG/HUNGARY
Tel. + 36 03502001
Fax + 36 12982413
http://www.neak.gov.hu/