Social Security - E-forms

A standardised set of forms was developed in order to make it possible also to exercise social security rights in other Member States, that is to say E forms which are available in all national languages. The E200 series covers pensions, E300 unemployment benefits, and E400 family benefits, such as child benefit. Services are now provided through the European Health Insurance Card and therefore the importance of the E100 series forms (in particular E110, E111, E119 und E128) has diminished.

If you wish to look for employment in Germany and receive unemployment benefits in another Member State, you may, on particular conditions, have them paid to you retrospectively in Germany each month for a period of up to three months. It is important that you inform your local employment office in good time of your intention to take your benefits with you so that you can prove your entitlement to the German employment office. In order to receive job-finding services and cash benefits, it is normally necessary to be available for work on the domestic labour market for at least four weeks before leaving for Germany. Entering Germany before you have received an E303 certificate is not recommended since to do so can considerably delay payment or even render it impossible.

Your entitlement to unemployment benefits is established by, amongst other things, periods of employment subject to contributions. Therefore, in addition to your CV details, employment certificates from former employers are of central importance. When making an application for benefits with an employment agency in Germany, you must provide proof of your insurance periods by means of an E301 form. All the periods relevant to the calculation will be listed clearly in it. Where an application for unemployment benefit is made having regard to foreign insurance and employment periods, sight is very often lost of the fact that interim employment in Germany is one of the conditions for entitlement. Before you can obtain unemployment benefit in Germany, you must have been engaged in employment subject to insurance.

Text last edited on: 11/2006

Source: European Union
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