If you leave Ireland to live or work in another country, you may be entitled to receive social security benefits in the country you are moving to.
If you move to live or work in a country covered by EU Regulations, this means that for social security benefits/services, you are entitled to be treated in the same way as the nationals in the EU member state/EEA country that you move to.
This means that you and your family are entitled to apply for any benefits or assistance available in the country in which you reside.
If you are applying for insurance-based payments, any contributions made in other EU member states/EEA countries should be taken into account.
If you need to claim benefits while living abroad you will be asked to provide information about your Irish social insurance contribution record.
You can use the U1 form when claiming unemployment benefits abroad.
The U1 is called a portable document and it provides details of your Irish social insurance record.
The U1 can be issued to the customer, or the relevant EU member state can request this document on the customer’s behalf. Requests from other EU member states for your social insurance record will be prioritised by the department so that you don’t lose out on any benefits due to you when abroad.
If you are returning to Ireland from a country in the EU/EEA, you should bring a U1 form back with you as it will provide details of the insurance contributions you made in that country.
Requests for S041/E104 (health related benefits) can only be made by the Institutes in the relevant EU member state.
To request your Irish social insurance record please complete the form below and email it to EUGeneralQueries@welfare.ie or by post to the address below
International Records Section
Address:
Department of Social Protection, McCarter's Road, Ardaravan, Buncrana, Co. Donegal, F93 CH79.
Email:
Phone number:
Processing your application can take some time as the department may have to contact your recent employer/s before the forms can be issued.
Operational guidelines describe the processes and procedures that staff in the department follow when carrying out their work.
