Social Benefits
Free movement of people is one of the fundamental freedoms in the European Union. If due to some reason you decide to change your place of residence, your social guarantees shall also be transferred alongside with you. Every state enjoys highly diverse social security systems, therefore the EU regulations for coordination of social security systems are applied to make the transfer process smooth. Nevertheless, these regulations do not seek harmonisation of diverse social security systems.
Regulations for coordination of social security systems are applicable with regard to all the citizens of the European Union: workers, their family members, and non-active persons.
Regulations that are currently in force are based on the following four principles:
- non-discrimination on the grounds of nationality;
- a person is covered by social insurance only in one member state;
- insurance periods gained in different member states are aggregated;
- social security benefits may be exported.
Regulations cover all major social security benefits:
- sickness, maternity and paternity benefits;
- invalidity and unemployment benefits;
- retirement and pre-retirement benefits;
- survivor’s benefits;
- benefits for accidents at work and occupational diseases;
- death grants;
- family benefits.
Information about institutions of Lithuania and other member states responsible for implementation of regulations can be found here.
