§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what obligations there are under EU directives and regulations, and what proposals have been made for further steps, for ensuring that citizens of the European Union and their dependents are entitled to social security benefits in their country of residence within the Union. [139088]
§ Angela EagleEEC Regulation 1408/71 co-ordinates the social security systems of member states. These rules ensure that people covered by the scope of the regulation do not suffer undue loss of Social Security benefits if they move from one member state to another. The regulations prevent discrimination on grounds of nationality; they provide that contributions made in one member state may be taken into account when calculating benefit entitlement in another; and they stipulate which state is responsible for the payment of benefits.
Contributory benefits are generally paid by the state in which the person last worked and paid contributions. For non-contributory benefits, the general rule is that these are provided by the state where the person habitually resides in accordance with the legislation of that state.
322WEEC Regulation 1612/68 also has an effect on certain social security rights. This regulation governs, among other things, access to social and tax advantages for migrant workers and members of their families who have moved within the EU and take up work or who retire after taking up work there.