Those who wish to preserve and transfer rights must be nationals of one of the
Member States of the European Union or of the European Economic Area. The
following individuals are protected by Community provisions:
- employees and self-employed workers who are or have been insured in
accordance with the legislation of one of the said states
- public employees
- students
- pensioners, including those who retired prior to the time their country
joined the European Union or the EEA
- relatives or survivors of the persons referred to above, irrespective of
their nationality
The benefits which can be maintained or transferred are:
- sickness and maternity
- those relating to accidents in the workplace
- those relating to work-related illnesses
- invalidity benefits (contributory)
- old age pensions
- allowances paid to survivors
- benefits paid in the event of death
- unemployment benefits
- family allowances
Special provisions for cross-border workers to receive unemployment benefit
stipulate that a cross-border worker, partially or intermittently unemployed,
will receive the benefit provided by the legislation of the State in which he is
insured, as if he were residing there.
On the other hand, if a cross-border worker is completely unemployed he will
receive only the benefits due under the legislation of the country in which he
resides, even though he had been insured in Italy during his most recent period
of employment.
Seasonal workers who are completely unemployed can opt to be granted an
allowance either in the country in which they were employed for the seasonal
work or in their country of residence.
Workers seconded abroad are normally employed in one country, but sent by their
own firm to another country, where they work for a temporary period. Seconded
workers then remain insured in the country in which they normally work and,
consequently, continue to pay social security contributions to the system of
that country. They have the right to every medical benefit in kind, in the
country to which they are sent, irrespective of whether they have transferred
their residence there.
Further Information
- Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 and subsequent amendments
Useful contacts: local INPS offices, local offices of the hospital
associations, charities
For further details contact:
- Ministry of Welfare (Ministero del Welfare)
- Directorate General of Social Security (Direzione Generale della
Previdenza)
Rome
Tel: 06 46831
- Ministry of Health (Ministero della Salute), Rome
Tel: 06 58491
Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2006
Reproduction is authorised.
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