How EU social security coordination works
The EU does not merge national social security systems; each country remains free to design its own. What the EU does is set common rules that decide which country's system covers you when two or more countries are involved.
EU membership and rights · Last reviewed: 2026-10-08
This is not legal or financial advice
Basic principles
- One country's legislation: a person is covered by one country's social security system at a time and pays contributions in only one country.
- Equal treatment: people covered have the same rights and obligations as the nationals of the country where they are insured.
- Aggregation of periods: when claiming benefits, earlier periods of insurance, work or residence in other countries are taken into account where necessary.
- Export of benefits: cash benefits such as pensions and family benefits can generally be paid even if the recipient or their family lives in another EU country.
Branches covered and legal basis
The Commission page lists the branches covered: sickness, maternity and paternity, pensions, invalidity, unemployment, family benefits, and accidents at work and occupational diseases. The legal basis is Regulation 883/2004 and implementing Regulation 987/2009, applied since 2010; the NHIF page also gives 1 May 2010 as the start. According to the Commission page, in April 2026 EU countries approved revised rules; they take effect only after formal adoption by the European Parliament and the Council and publication in the Official Journal. Your Europe also notes that new social security rules will apply from 2028.
Forms and practical situations
Your Europe lists the standard forms used in practice: A1 (statement of applicable legislation; proves you pay social security in another EU country as a posted worker; the issuing institution is in the sending country, and if you work in several countries you first contact the institution in your country of residence), S1, S2, S3 and DA1 (healthcare), U1, U2 and U3 (unemployment), and P1 (summary of pension decisions). The page says the forms are valid if you legally live in an EU country, irrespective of nationality; how the scope applies to Turkish citizens and the separate Turkey-Bulgaria bilateral agreement are different questions, see the related articles. Confirm with the institution before you decide.
This page is not legal or financial advice
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay contributions to two EU countries at the same time?
Per the Commission page, the rule is that a person is covered by one country's system and pays contributions in only that country.
Do my work periods in another country count towards my pension?
According to the Commission page, earlier insurance, work or residence periods in other countries are considered where necessary when claiming benefits. Ask the pension institution for details and for the P1 form.
Sources
The information on this page is based on the official sources listed below. Legislation changes — open the links and verify the current position.
- European Commission — Social security coordination: basic principles (Regulations 883/2004 and 987/2009) — https://employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu/node/76_en · 2026-10-08
- Your Europe — Standard forms for social security rights (A1, S1, S2, S3, DA1, U1, U2, U3, P1) — https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/work/social-security-forms/index_en.htm · 2026-10-08
- Your Europe — Unemployment and benefits when moving within the EU — https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/work/unemployment-and-benefits/index_en.htm · 2026-10-08
- НЗОК — Европейска интеграция и координация на системите за социална сигурност — https://www.nhif.bg/bg/abroad/eu-integration · 2026-10-08
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