This chapter explains what you need to know when you are transferred for work to another EU/European Economic Area (EEA) country/Switzerland/the UK*, exercising your right to the free movement of persons under EU Regulations.

In particular, the chapter explains the concept of transferability of social security rights accrued working abroad and the way in which contribution or insurance periods are taken into consideration for the purposes of both enforcement of your right to social security benefits and the amount thereof.

*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.

In what situation can I maintain accrued social security rights?

If you go to work in an EU or EEA country, or Switzerland, or the UK, as a rule, you won't be registered with and insured by the Italian social security system, but rather the legislation of the country where you work will apply.

If, after having worked and paid social security contributions in that country, you return to Italy, the contributions that you have paid until that point may be taken into consideration for the purposes of your entitlement to and calculation of social security benefits when you submit any claim.

What conditions do I need to meet?

If, after a period working in an EU/EEA country, Switzerland or the UK, you return to work in Italy, the possibility of adding (in technical jargon, 'aggregation of contributions') contributions paid in that country applies to all social security benefits for which there is a contribution requirement:

• old age pension;
• early old age pension;
• survivors' pension;
• incapacity and disability benefit;
• unemployment benefit.

What am I entitled to and how can I claim?

When you submit your claim for a social security benefit which has a contribution requirement in Italy, you will be asked if you have ever worked in another EU or EEA country, Switzerland or the UK.

Your claim must specify:

• which country you worked in;
• the name and address of your employer in that country;
• the periods of time you worked there for;
• the ID number with which you were registered with the relevant social security authority in the country where you worked.

If, before leaving the country where you worked, you were registered with the Job Centre in that country as a jobseeker and you accrued the entitlement to unemployment benefit, you maintain the right to this benefit even after you return to Italy, up to a maximum of 3 months. To this end, you must have been registered with the Job Centre in the country where you worked for 4 weeks but you can ask to be authorised even before this period. Moreover, you must send the competent INPS office the U2 form or e-document, duly completed by the social security authority or institute in that country. You must also be issued a U1 form, even if you are not entitled to unemployment benefit (as is the case, for example, with public employees) in order to complete the totalling in case of any future unemployment benefit or benefits from the EU country where you were a jobseeker.

Jargon busters

• The European Economic Area (EEA) means all business, economic and social relations between EU countries with Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein;
• Social security system registration number: this is a unique personal social security system registration number (which has the same function as a tax code in Italy). It is a unique reference number which helps to identify the subject's place in national records so they can access public services, healthcare and claim social security benefits.

Forms you may need to fill in

The necessary forms to claim for benefits can no longer be downloaded from the INPS website because they are to be submitted via the online procedure.

You can also get free support from the Employee organisations (Patronati).

Know your rights

The link below gives information on social security rights provided for by legislation in force:

• http://www.inps.it/portale/default.aspx?sID=%3b0%3b9398%3b9442%3b&lastMenu=9442&iMenu=1&p4=2

Also, below is the link to access European Commission publications on coordination of social security rights for those who live or travel in the EU:

• http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=849&langId=en

Contact

Ministry of Labour and Social Policy
Department of Social Security and Social Protection Policies
Div. VI - European and International Social Security

Via Flavia 6 00187 Rome RM ITALY
Tel. +39 064683/2415

National Social Security Institute - INPS
D.C. Ammortizzatori Sociali - Servizi in regime internazionale
Via Ciro il Grande 21 00146 Rome RM ITALY
Tel. +39 065905/6480
Contacts on the website under the tab 'INPS Responds'.