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Social security

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Are your citizen’s rights protected?

The social security, pensions and health care provisions of the Withdrawal Agreement cover a wider group of people than the residence provisions.

The Withdrawal Agreement protects all those UK nationals who, at the end of the transition period (31 December 2020), were in a situation involving both the UK and Slovakia at the same time. Their family members and their survivors are also protected. Unlike the UK nationals, their family members and survivors don’t need to be in a cross-border situation.

In the context of Slovakia, the Withdrawal Agreement protects:

  1. UK nationals who are subject to the Slovak legislation at the end of the transition period, as well as their family members and survivors,
  2. UK nationals who reside in Slovakia, and are subject to the UK legislation at the end of the transition period, as well as their family members and survivors,
  3. UK nationals not covered by points (a) or (b) pursuing an economic activity in Slovakia at the end of the transition period, but are subject to the UK legislation, as well as their family members and survivors,
  4. Persons who do not, or who no longer, fall within points (a) to (c) and who are covered by the residence provisions of the Withdrawal Agreement, as well as their family members and survivors.

The persons under points (a) to (c) are covered for as long as they continue without interruption to be in one of the situations involving both Slovakia and the UK.

The persons under point (d) are covered for as long as they continue to have a right to reside, or a right to work in Slovakia.

The persons above will maintain their right to social security benefits, pensions and health care, and if they are entitled to a cash benefit from one country, they may continue to receive it even if they live in another country.

Old-age pension

If you have worked and paid social security contributions in more than one EU country (including the UK) before 31 December 2020, the contributions you have made in the past and those you will make in the future will continue to be added together when you retire, as they are now.

If you retire in Slovakia, you can claim:

You will only need to make one single application covering all the countries where you have worked. If you worked in the UK or any other EU country, you need to indicate this in the form.

If you work and pay social security contributions in Slovakia, you will still be able to add your UK social security contributions towards your Slovak pension. This will happen even if you claim your pension after 31 December 2020.

The application form (in Slovak) for claiming pension in Slovakia serves only as an informative template and is to be filled with assistance of the competent Social Insurance Agency branch staff. The application must be submitted together with the required documents.

If you are registered as resident in Slovakia or if you are lawfully residing in Slovakia by 31 December 2020:

  • You will get your UK State Pension uprated every year for as long as you remain resident in Slovakia. This will happen even if you start claiming your pension on or after 1 January 2021, as long as you meet the conditions.
  • You will be able to count future social security contributions towards meeting the qualifying conditions for your UK State Pension.

Find out more:

Maternity benefit

You are entitled to maternity benefit in Slovakia, if you have been paying social security contributions (sickness insurance) for at least 270 days in the last two years prior to childbirth or taking the child into care.

Persons entitled to the maternity benefit:

  • Mother of the child, or
  • Another insured person who took the child into care and who is raising the child (e.g. father of the child if the mother died or father of the child following an agreement with the mother)

You can claim the maternity benefit by submitting an application form at the Social Insurance Agency branch competent according to your place of residence. The application form is issued by your doctor or by the Social Insurance Agency (it is not freely available). If you are employed the application form must also be certified by your employer.

Read more about when and for how long the maternity benefit is paid in Slovakia.

If you work and pay social security contributions in Slovakia, your UK social security contributions will be taken into account when applying for the maternity benefit in Slovakia. This will happen even if you claim the maternity benefit after 31 December 2020.

You may also check if you are entitled to maternity benefits from the UK.

If you are living in Slovakia by 31 December 2020, you will continue to receive any UK benefits you already receive. This will continue for as long as you live in Slovakia and meet all eligibility requirements.

Find out more: