Recieving benefits
Recieving health care, payment of a pension and entitlement to social security
benefits should be easier thanks to reciprocal arrangements between European
Union countries. These arrangements mean that people from within the European
Economic Area are treated the same and have their benefit rights protected. In
theory there is no problem in having income from investments or a United
Kingdom private or state pension paid to you in France.
As a retired person you will be entitled to the full use of the French health
care system on the same basis as a French person. The E111 form covers health
agreements between the UK and France, which is a certificate for the
entitlement to treatment. However, although it is open ended and valid for life
you must be continuing to make social security contributions in the UK. And if
you move to France and become resident then the E111 becomes invalid. The
reciprocal agreements also cover things such as sickness and maternity
benefits, unemployment and family benefits. The basic principle is to make sure
that if you have made contributions, or are doing, that you do not lose out and
that you should be only subject to the rules of one country. (06/09/04)
|