Amending social security coordination

Briefing 13-10-2017

Approximately 14 million EU residents (mobile workers, unemployed and economically inactive citizens) are not living in their home country. In order to grant them the social and health benefits to which they are entitled, coordination between the social security systems of the Member States is necessary. However, the current Regulations (EC) No 883/2004 and (EC) No 987/2009 no longer reflect the changing national social security systems and the case law of the European Court of Justice. The European Commission’s December 2016 proposal aims to establish a coherent regime for the coordination of long-term care benefits, and to clarify the access of economically inactive citizens to social benefits. It proposes new arrangements for the coordination of unemployment benefits in order to enhance job-seeking, and provisions for the coordination of family benefits, such as parental leave allowances. The proposal also seeks to strengthen administrative rules on social security coordination for posted workers. However, it does not intend to change existing rules on the export of child benefits, despite demands from several stakeholders. Second edition. The ‘EU Legislation in Progress’ briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure. Please note this document has been designed for on-line viewing.