Social security rights and obligations in the Union including those related to getting pensions

The EU has common rules to protect citizens social security rights within Europe (EU 27 + Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland). There are also rules in place regarding the United Kingdom. These rules do not replace national systems, all countries are free to decide who is to be insured under their legislation, which benefits they are eligible for and the conditions they are available under.

These rules apply to nationals of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland who are or have been insured in one of these countries, and their family members, stateless persons or refugees residing in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, who are or have been insured in one of these countries, and their family members and nationals of non-EU countries, legally residing in the territory of the EU, who have moved between these countries, and their family members.

1. You only pay contributions in one country at a time, so you are covered by the legislation of one country at a time. Social security institutions will decide which country's legislation applies to you. Find out which rules apply to you
2. You have the right to equal treatment or non-discrimination. You have the same rights and obligations as the nationals of the country where you are covered.
3. If you are claiming a benefit, your previous periods of insurance, work or residence in other countries may be taken into account if necessary
4. If you are entitled to a cash benefit from one country, you may generally receive it even if you are living in a different country. This is known as the principle of exportability.

More information

New Regulations on modernised coordination (Regulations 883/2004 and 987/2009) apply from 1 May 2010. Learn more about social security rules in the country of your interest.

On 13 December 2016, the Commission proposed a revision of the EU legislation on social security coordination. The proposal is currently being discussed by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU.

Pensions were created to maintain the living standards of older people and protect them from poverty. They are the main source of income for about one quarter of the EU population.

Principle 15 of the European Pillar of Social Rights details:

• the right of workers and the self-employed to a pension commensurate with contributions and ensuring an adequate income
• the right to equal opportunities to acquire pension rights for both women and men
• the right to resources that ensure living in dignity in old age.

Although pension policy and legislation is decided at a national level, there is EU legislation in place to protect the pension rights of people who move between EU countries. Social security coordination ensures cross-border protection of state pensions, while the right of mobile workers to supplementary pensions is protected by special rules.

In addition, the EU supports national efforts to ensure a high level of social protection, including pension adequacy, by facilitating mutual learning and exchange of best practices.

These supports includes:

• The triennial Pension Adequacy Report of the Commission and the Social Protection Committee gives an overview of pension policies, with a focus on how adequate old-age incomes are today and how adequate they will be in the future. Volume II the pension system and pension adequacy in each of the 27 Member States. The key conclusions of the 2021 report were endorsed on 14 June 2021, after discussions with policy makers, social partners, stakeholders and experts at the international conference Pension adequacy in an ageing society.
• The High-level group of experts on supplementary pensions examined potential contributions of supplementary (occupational and personal) pensions to adequate old-age incomes and submitted its final report in December 2019.
• The Commission offers financial support to projects that are focused on improving policy-making at national level or helping citizens access information on their pension rights, such as the European Tracking Service for pensions.
• The Commission also supports Active Ageing, through offeringguiding principles for active ageing, the Active Ageing Index, a policy advocacy and monitoring tool, the European Innovation Partnership for Active and Health Ageing, which promotes innovation and funding. It also supports the work of organisations like the social partner autonomous agreement, and the covenant on demographic change.
• In 2022 the Social Protection Committee approved a benchmarking framework on pension adequacy to support the implementation of principle 15 of the European Pillar of Social Rights.

The EU also provides country analysis and guidance, including on pension policies, within the European Semester economic coordination cycle. Support to national pension reform measures is available from the Recovery and Resilience Facility and the Technical Support Instrument.

Learn more about how your pension is protected within the EU here:

I want to leave feedback on this page

I want to report an obstacle to my EU rights

I need help or assistance in regards to my EU rights